Honored for off-field efforts, Papi then delivers on it

BOSTON — Prior to the game, in the first of three ceremonies that will be held for David Ortiz this weekend, the Red Sox chose to focus on the generous slugger’s off-field accomplishments.

But once it was time to play baseball, Ortiz’s bat again stole the show and led his team to a 5-3 victory over the Blue Jays on Friday night at Fenway Park.

Though Ortiz will retire once the Red Sox are done playing this season, he continues to bash the baseball in timely situations just as he’s done in all 14 of his seasons in Boston.

His latest home run? It was a two-run laser beam to right that snapped a 3-3 tie and delivered a potentially damaging blow to the Jays, who now hold the second American League Wild Card spot by just a half-game over the Tigers. Earlier in the game, Ortiz laced an RBI single to snap an 0-for-10 spell.

“On a night that begins a weekend celebration, I don’t know that you can write a script any better than what David did tonight offensively,” said Red Sox manager John Farrell. “He turns this place upside down, given the time of the game, what was needed.”

Ortiz appreciates the love he is getting from the Red Sox, and the appreciation every other opponent has given him on the road this season.

But what gives him the biggest charge is that he knows he’s about to lead his team into one final postseason run, which will start in Game 1 of the AL Division Series on Thursday against the Indians. Home-field advantage for that showdown is still up for grabs, as Boston leads Cleveland, which beat Kansas City on Friday, by a half-game and owns the tiebreaker. The Rangers wrapped up home field throughout the postseason with a win over the Rays.

• AL East champions …

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