Ortiz reaches 500 homers, Red Sox beat Rays 10-4
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — David Ortiz homered twice to become the 27th player in major league history to reach 500 homers, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 10-4 on Saturday night.
With an overflow crowd in the right-field stands on their feet and chanting "Let's go Papi!," Ortiz reached the milestone when he lined a shot to right-center on a 2-2 pitch from Matt Moore leading off the fifth. He connected for No. 499 in the first.
Big Papi has 50 multihomer games in a 19-year career.
Ortiz pumped his right arm as he ran toward first base. His teammates emptied the dugout and bullpen to celebrate the big hit with him.
The Rays said the fan that got the ball wished to remain anonymous and hasn't decided what to do with the memento.
The designated hitter connected in the first on a 1-2 pitch from Moore, a towering three-run shot into the right field stands.
Ortiz has eight homers in his last 14 games, and 34 this season to became the fourth player to reach the milestone while playing for the Red Sox. He joins Jimmie Foxx (1940), Ted Williams (1960) and Manny Ramirez (2008), who also hit their 500th homer on the road.
Ortiz was lifted for a pinch-runner in the seventh after flaring a single to center for his third hit in four at-bats. He received a partial standing ovation from the announced crowd of 20,698 while returning to the dugout.
Moore (1-4) gave up eight runs and nine hits over five innings.
Rick Porcello (8-12) got the win after allowing three runs and five hits in seven innings.
Ortiz was not alone when it came to long balls for the Red Sox.
Boston took a 5-0 lead on consecutive third-inning solo shots by Mookie Betts and Dustin Pedroia. Betts had extended his career-high hitting streak to 17 games on an infield single in the first.
Pedroia drove in a pair with a fourth-inning double and Travis Shaw hit a two-run homer in the seventh.
John Jaso hit a two-run homer and Richie Shaffner had a solo shot for Tampa Bay.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Red Sox: INF Hanley Ramirez (right shoulder) ran the bases in addition to taking batting practice. ... INF Brock Holt (upper back spasms) is available on an emergency-only basis.
Rays: RF Steven Souza Jr. is 2 for 6 in two games since returning from a broken left hand.
UP NEXT
Red Sox: LHP Rich Hill will make his first big league start Sunday since July 27, 2009, against Kansas City while with Baltimore. His last appearance in the major's came almost one year ago on Sept 23, 2014.
Rays: LHP Drew Smyly (2-2) has given up 13 runs over 26 innings in five starts since returning from a torn left labrum. Two were scoreless, while he allowed four runs or more in the others.
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