Dominic Smith didn't have the greatest start to the Boston Red Sox's June 4 game against the Atlanta Braves.
The first baseman racked up two errors in the first inning — the first was a miss on a 108-mile-per-hour knock off the bat of Matt Olson and the other was a drop after a toss from Jamie Westbrook at second base. But Smith quickly made up for his mistakes.
The first baseman took the plate in the bottom of the third inning against Max Fried. Smith took Fried deep on the second pitch of the at-bat and his home run ball bounced off the top of the Green Monster.
Red Sox fans watching the game from home got an unexpected call on the play. Boston legend David Ortiz was in the NESN broadcast booth with Dave O'Brien and Will Middlebrooks at the time of the blast, and he gave fans some of his usual Big Papi flair.
David Ortiz's call of Dominic Smith's home run was a treat for Red Sox fans
Give us more Play-by-Papi, please! pic.twitter.com/sivBfDfwAY
— MLB (@MLB) June 5, 2024
"See! That's what happens when Big Papi's in the building!" the first ballot Hall of Famer said, as Smith's homer dropped off the top of the Monster. "Winner, winner, chicken dinner!"
Ortiz is well-known among Boston fans and beyond for his clutchness. His mere presence in the booth spread some to Smith, who struggled in the field the previous inning.
While in the press box with O'Brien and Middlebrooks, Ortiz discussed his Celtics fandom. Boston is headed to the NBA Finals, which begins at TD Garden on June 5. Big Papi is frequently seen sitting courtside there, often supporting Celtics veteran and Eastern Conference Finals hero Al Horford.
Ortiz was later pictured on the Red Sox broadcast in a Horford jersey, carrying the NBA Finals trophy in the stands among fans. If Ortiz's clutchness can impact Smith from the booth, hopefully, it can inspire the Celtics on the court in the Finals.