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Sox-tober! Papi HR jolts bat-flipping Jays
- Updated: October 1, 2016
BOSTON — David Ortiz began his final regular-season weekend with a go-ahead two-run homer that damaged Toronto’s postseason hopes while leading the Red Sox to a 5-3 victory Friday at Fenway Park that improved their chances at home field in the American League Division Series.
The loss slipped the Blue Jays into the second AL Wild Card spot one game behind the Orioles, who beat the Yankees. Toronto is just a half-game ahead of the Tigers, who defeated the Braves, and one game ahead of the Mariners, who beat the A’s. The Red Sox maintained their half-game lead over the Indians for the No. 2 seed and own the tiebreaker because Boston won the season series. The Red Sox-Indians matchup in the Division Series is set now that Texas clinched the No. 1 seed in the AL.
Playing for home field and trying to keep his team sharp entering the postseason is why manager John Farrell played his “A” lineup on Friday, something he’s likely to do all weekend in games that will be crucial for Toronto.
“Like I told you guys earlier today, we’re going to be walking into the playoffs pretty soon and we want to stay sharp,” said Ortiz. “It was fun to see our lineup out there today kind of regrouping.”
The Blue Jays had broken out to a 3-1 lead in the fifth inning against AL Cy Young Award candidate Rick Porcello on the strength of a prodigious two-run homer to left by Jose Bautista that snapped a tie.
In a four-run seventh inning, the Red Sox gained momentum from a strange play in which Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin fielded a tapper by Dustin Pedroia but threw errantly to first. In fact, the throw, which nearly hit Pedroia, went out of play. Pedroia was awarded second base, and at the discretion of the umpires, Andrew Benintendi, who started the play at second, was permitted to score to make it a one-run game.
After Mookie Betts tied it up with an RBI single against Joe Biagini, it was Big Papi’s turn, and he roped a two-run homer down the line in right off Brett Cecil, eliciting roars from the Fenway faithful. Ortiz then came out for a curtain call.
“I’m focused. I just want to go out there and do something when I step up to the plate,” said Ortiz. “Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.”
Pedroia led Boston’s attack with three hits to give him 201 for the season.
MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDPapi honored, then goes deep: In the first of three ceremonies that will honor Ortiz this weekend, the slugger was honored for his off-field contributions. Once the game started, Ortiz wasted no time making his presence felt, lacing an RBI single to left in the first inning that broke a scoreless tie. That …
