If you were to envision one swing to define Ortiz’s career, this may be it. Down 5-1 in the bottom of the eighth, the Red Sox managed to collect a pair of hits off Max Scherzer, forcing Tigers manager Jim Leyland to go to the bullpen. Joaquin Benoit came into the game, gave up a single to Dustin Pedroia, then had to face Ortiz with nowhere to put him. On the first pitch, he sent an 86 mph changeup over the bullpens in right field to make for one of the biggest moments in playoff history and one of the most iconic photos in Red Sox history.
The Red Sox would win 3 of the next 4 to book their ticket to the World Series.