The Boston Red Sox were powered to an impressive 10-4 road win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night by David Ortiz, who hit two homers to join the 500-home run club.
Ortiz’s home runs led an offensive explosion for the Red Sox, who also got another solid outing from starting pitcher Rick Porcello.
Here’s a recap of Saturday’s game.
GAME IN A WORD
Offense.
The Red Sox scored 10 runs and collected 13 hits, including four home runs and five extra-base hits. Nine of the 12 Red Sox players with a plate appearance had at least one hit.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Ortiz’ 500th home run in the fifth inning gave Boston a commanding 8-0 lead, which was more than enough run support for Porcello.
ON THE BUMP
— Porcello pitched two scoreless innings and then tossed a perfect third inning on just eight pitches. He had retired six in a row entering the fourth inning before running into a little trouble by giving up a double and a walk. Porcello prevented any further damage by recording the final two outs.
He gave up a two-run homer to John Jaso in the fifth inning and another earned run in the seventh, but he pitched very well overall. His final line: three earned runs, five hits, eight strikeouts and five walks on 118 pitches over seven innings.
— Heath Hembree pitched the eighth inning and gave up a solo homer to Luke Maile.
— Matt Barnes pitched a perfect ninth frame to secure the win. He had one strikeout.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— Mookie Betts led off the game with a single to extend his hitting streak to 17 games. He homered in the third inning and finished 2 for 4 with three runs and an RBI.
— Dustin Pedroia hit his 10th homer of the season in the third inning. It marks the first time he’s hit double-digit homers since 2012. He also hit a two-run double in the fourth inning off Rays starter Matt Moore. He went 2 for 4 with a run and three RBIs.
— Xander Bogaerts singled in the first inning and later scored on Ortiz’s home run. He was 1 for 4.
— Ortiz hit two homers, the 499th of his career in the first inning (a three-run blast) and a solo homer in the fifth frame for No. 500. He’s the 27th player to reach the 500-home run milestone. He finished 3 for 4 with two runs and four RBIs.
— Travis Shaw went 1 for 4 with a run, a walk and two RBIs.
— Pablo Sandoval was the only Red Sox starter without a hit. He was 0 for 5.
TWEET OF THE GAME
Ortiz is in impressive company.
[tweet https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/642847801089634304 align=”center”]
UP NEXT
The Red Sox and Rays conclude their three-game series Sunday afternoon. Rich Hill (Boston) and Drew Smyly (Tampa Bay) are the probable starting pitchers.
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
