Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell raised an interesting question with one of his postgame comments Friday.
“I’d hate to think where we’d be without him,” Farrell said of David Ortiz, who hit two home runs, including a game-winner in the 10th inning, as the Red Sox defeated the Baltimore Orioles 5-3 at Camden Yards.
The Red Sox are 20 games below .500 (67-87). They’re primed to pick in the top six in the upcoming Major League Baseball draft and have been out of contention since well before the non-waiver trade deadline. Amazingly, it could be worse without No. 34.
Ortiz reached another milestone in Friday’s extra-inning win. Let’s chat about that and more.
— Ortiz went 3-for-5 with two homers, three RBIs and two runs scored.
Ortiz’s first home run — his 33rd of the season — gave him 100 RBIs. He now has eight seasons with 30 home runs and 100 RBIs, moving him ahead of Ted Williams (seven) for the most such seasons in Red Sox history.
Only six players in MLB history — Ortiz, Babe Ruth, Fred McGriff, Barry Bonds, Rafael Palmeiro and Frank Thomas — have reached 30 homers and 100 RBIs in a single season at age 38 or older. Ortiz, who turns 39 in November, has hit more home runs this season (34) than he has in any season since 2007 (35).
“They call me, ‘Super Papi,’” Ortiz joked with reporters in Baltimore when asked how he continues to produce at such a high level. “That’s right. Put it down like that.”
— Allen Webster stayed in control for 5 2/3 innings.
Webster allowed one earned run while scattering seven hits. He struck out three, walked one and threw 98 pitches (56 strikes).
The Orioles’ lineup wasn’t exactly daunting — Baltimore already clinched the American League East — but Webster’s outing was encouraging.
— Rusney Castillo went 1-for-4 with an infield single in his second major league game.
Castillo didn’t hit the ball out of the infield, as he grounded out three times. However, there was a lot to like about his second game from a defensive standpoint.
Castillo made excellent reads, took good routes and showed a strong arm in recording his first outfield assist in the fifth inning. The Cuban outfielder cut down Alejandro De Aza at the plate with a one-hop throw.
— Mookie Betts went 2-for-5 with a run scored atop the order.
Betts scored all the way from first base on Ortiz’s line drive into the right field corner in the fifth inning. The rookie would have been out if catcher Caleb Joseph handled the throw, but Betts still motored around the bags.
— Xander Bogaerts has shown improvement defensively of late. But there are days, like Friday, when it’s reasonable to question whether the 21-year-old will remain at shortstop or someday shift to third base.
Bogaerts fired an errant throw to first base in the seventh inning that allowed the Orioles to tie the game 3-3. He was forced to charge Steve Pearce’s slow grounder, but it was an out that a major league shortstop must record.
— Allen Craig probably can’t wait for this season to be over.
Craig went 0-for-4 with a strikeout while leaving three men on base. He also showed some iffy footwork at first base.
Craig is hitting .114 (8-for-70) with 29 strikeouts since being acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals.
— Garin Cecchini went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in his first major league start.
Photo via Joy R. Absalon/USA TODAY Sports Images
