10:38 p.m.: Day 2 of Big Papi’s Fenway farewell tour got off to a great start with a cool pregame ceremony.
It didn’t end well, however. The Red Sox came up short in a 4-3 loss to the Blue Jays, with manager John Farrell removing Ortiz in the fifth inning to get the 40-year-old designated hitter off his feet.
Join us Sunday for what should be an emotional season finale for Big Papi, regardless of the score.
10:10 p.m.: Ortiz shared a cool moment with fellow Dominican Republic native Al Horford before the game.
9:26 p.m.: The at-bats are over for Big Papi, but the cool pictures keep coming in:
9:12 p.m.: Our friends north of the border also are showing love for Ortiz.
9:04 p.m.: Big Papi’s night on the field is over in the fifth inning. He laces a one-out single to right field and is replaced by pinch runner Travis Shaw.
Ortiz gets a standing ovation from the Fenway Faithful as he walks toward the dugout. He finishes the night 1-for-2 with a walk.
8:30 p.m.: One more look at the festivities from earlier:
8:14 p.m.: The ceremony created two awesome moments for Frates and Jordan Leandre, who has a pretty inspiring story himself.
8:09 p.m: Ortiz comes to bat in the second inning with runners on first and second and two outs, but there’s no magic this time. He grounds into the shift, as Devon Travis’ throw to first base from the outfield grass just beats the 40-year-old slugger.
8:03 p.m.: All the stars were out at Fenway before tonight’s game, including Bobby Orr and Ty Law.
Photos via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
7:45 p.m.: Here’s a cool look at the end of the ceremony courtesy of Team FrateTrain, which has been essential in raising funds to battle ALS through events like the Ice Bucket Challenge:
7:23 p.m.: The crowd rises to its feet for Ortiz’s first at-bat. Toronto Blue Jays pitcher J.A. Happ wants no part of Big Papi this time around, walking the 40-year-old slugger with one out in the first inning.
7:20 p.m.: The Celtics’ players sent Ortiz a nice message on Twitter — including Isaiah Thomas, who capped this video off with the perfect line.
7:14 p.m.: Was tonight a sneak peek of bigger things to come tomorrow?
7:11 p.m.: A few more scenes from the pregame festivities. (We swear, those are Ortiz jerseys):
7:06 p.m.: That’ll put the finishing touches on tonight’s ceremony. Let’s play some baseball.
7:03 p.m.: The throng of athletes and local heroes gathers at the mound, as Bauman joins other Marathon survivors and Frates to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. A few Celtics players now are posing for selfies with Ortiz.
7:01 p.m.: The family of Allison Lundy, a fifth grader from Hopkinton, Mass., who passed away in 2012 after a battle with cancer, has joined Ortiz on the field.
Former Boston College star Pete Frates and Boston Marathon survivor Jeff Bauman are here as well, among several others. It’s turning into a pretty star-studded affair at Fenway.
6:58 p.m.: Andre Tippett, Ty Law, Joe Andruzzi and Matt Chatham are representing the Patriots. Bobby Orr, Ray Bourque and several current Bruins are in the house, along with the entire 2016-17 Celtics team, including head coach Brad Stevens.
Each Celtics player is wearing a No. 34 jersey (for Ortiz, not Paul Pierce).
6:54 p.m.: It’s a Boston sports night at Fenway.
Former players from the New England Patriots and current players from the Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics emerge from the center field garage door to greet Ortiz, who gives them all big hugs.
6:47 p.m.: Ortiz is announced as the Red Sox’s designated hitter in the No. 3 hole, drawing a roaring ovation from the crowd.
6:45 p.m.: A steady mist is falling at Fenway, but that’s not stopping the festivities. Several chairs are set up outside the Red Sox’s dugout for tonight’s luminaries, and there appears to be an unveiling of some sort coming soon.
6:40 p.m.: And we’re off. Tonight’s ceremony begins with a video montage of Ortiz’s many accomplishments as a player, from his early days with the Minnesota Twins to his famous grand slam in the 2013 ALCS.
6:30 p.m. ET: David Ortiz and the Boston Red Sox have a tough act to follow Saturday night.
Ortiz played the role of hero Friday against the Toronto Blue Jays, hitting a go-ahead, two-run home run in the seventh inning to lift Boston to a 5-3 win at Fenway Park.
The 40-year-old slugger has two more regular season games remaining in his career, and he’ll be honored again Saturday night in another pregame ceremony at Fenway.
Can he and the Sox have another magical evening? Keep it right here for all things Big Papi throughout the night.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
