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The ten greatest moments of David Ortiz’s Red Sox career

By Daniel Fox

BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 6: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates at home plate after he hit career home run #497 during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Fenway Park on September 6, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rich Gagnon/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 6: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates at home plate after he hit career home run #497 during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Fenway Park on September 6, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Rich Gagnon/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 13: Boston police officer Steve Horgan reacts as Torii Hunter #48 of the Detroit Tigers tries to catch a grand slam hit by David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox in the eighth inning of Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 13, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 13: Boston police officer Steve Horgan reacts as Torii Hunter #48 of the Detroit Tigers tries to catch a grand slam hit by David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox in the eighth inning of Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 13, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

The situation: 2013 ALCS Game 2, Tigers lead series 1-0

The moment: Ortiz’s game-tying grand slam in the eighth inning sparks a comeback that would tie the series

Boston was done. There was no doubt about it. They looked utterly overmatched in Game One, striking out seventeen times and not collecting a hit until the ninth inning. Game Two was more of the same. Cy Young winner Max Scherzer completely dominated the Red Sox lineup, allowing just one run over seven innings and striking out thirteen.

When the Tigers put up four runs in the top of the sixth, the Red Sox were in serious danger of losing the first two games at home with future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander looming in Game 3.

The Sox were finally able to get something going in the eighth off Tigers reliever Jose Veras. A one-out Will Middlebrooks double followed by a Jacoby Ellsbury walk finally woke up the Fenway Park crowd. A Shane Victorino strikeout put the Tigers just one out away from escaping the jam, but a Dustin Pedroia single loaded the bases for Big Papi.

Not taking any chances, the Tigers brought in closer Joaquin Benoit. His first pitch to Ortiz was sent deep into right field, chasing Gold Glove winner Torii Hunter to the edge of the track. He leaped high over the right-field wall barely missed the ball as he tumbled over the right-field fence. Fenway Park erupted in celebration, and Ortiz had yet another signature moment.

Ortiz’s blast changed the course of the series and the rest of the Red Sox season for that matter. Jarrod Saltalamacchia would walk off the Tigers in the ninth, and the Red Sox would close out the series in six games. Yet as heroic as Ortiz’s blast was, it still couldn’t top his performance in the 2004 ALCS.

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