Crowd Goes Wild: Sox Beat Tigers and Papi Hits 2000
Red Sox fans had a lot to cheer about in Fenway on Wednesday night. Not only did they witness home runs by Stephen Drew, Jacoby Ellsbury, Daniel Nava, Ryan Lavarnway, and Mike Napoli, but they also saw a Grand Slam by Will Middlebrooks, two home runs from David Ortiz, and Ortiz’s 2000th hit!
Sep 4, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) waves to the crowd after hitting his 2,000 career hit off Detroit Tigers pitcher
Al Alburquerque(not pictured) during the sixth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
The first five innings were the back-and-forth battle between two potential playoff teams that everyone expected to see. The Sox struck first when Drew hit his 2-run HR. The Tigers answered back when Torii Hunter grounded out to score Jose Iglesias. Prince Fielder put Detroit ahead with a 2-run jack. Ellsbury tied it up with a solo home run. Detroit regained the lead when Iglesias’s ground out scored Dan Kelly in the top of the 4th. Ortiz hit his first HR of the game to tie. Dustin Pedroia‘s sacrifice fly scored Shane Victorino to put the Sox up by one run in the bottom of the 5th.
It was the 6th inning when the wheels seemed to come off for the Tigers. Rick Porcello walked in a run. Middlebrooks then hit a grand slam off Al Alburquerque. Ortiz’s 2000th hit was a double that scored a run. Nava followed with a HR to put the Sox up 13-4. In the 7th Lavarnway homered and scored Xander Bogaerts. Quintin Berry, new to the Sox, singled to score Middlebrooks and then Ortiz homered yet again. Not to be left out, Napoli hit one into the seats and Berry singled in another run in the bottom of the 8th.
All and all it was a great night for the Fenway faithful and those of us stuck watching the game at home. The game had a playoff feel and in less than a month we may be seeing a rematch of these two teams!