With no walk-off homers all season long David Ortiz hit a two-run walk-off homerun off of Tampa Bay Devil Rays’ closer Al Reyes and also had a three-run shot earlier in the game defeating the Devil Rays 5-4.
Julio Lugo drew a leadoff walk and after a fly out by Dustin Pedroia Mr. Clutch himself, Ortiz, had a chance at his first walk-off homer of the year with the crowd fully behind him. Ortiz’ homerun barely cleared the right field wall going over Delmon Young’s head as it seemed to be caught up in the wind as Young ran toward Pesky’s Pole and then retreated back to the low right field wall but came back empty handed as the ball landed in the right field seats.
Ortiz’ fly ball seemed like it was easily catchable if Young played the ball differently, but it was hard to judge as the ball was hit so high in the air that the wind played with its direction and flight making it difficult to read and catch.
With the walk-off shot and the three-run blast in the third inning Ortiz drove home all five RBI’s in the game and kept the A.L. East Division lead over the New York Yankees at 5 games as they beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1.
Boston was on the short end again in innings pitched from their starting pitcher in back-to-back games. Jon Lester only went for 3 2/3 innings, on eight hits, four runs, four walks, and five strikeouts earning the no-decision while throwing 93 pitches in less than four innings of work.
Julian Tavarez kept the Devil Rays offense in check for 3 innings allowing no hits and no runs in his relief appearance of Lester.
Jason Varitek had chances to give Boston a lead striking out with two-runners on base and two outs in the fifth inning and grounding out with two outs and two runners on base in the seventh inning.
Tampa Bay scored all four of their runs in the first inning off of Lester on a Carlos Pena RBI single to center field, B.J. Upton hit his 24th homerun of the season off of Pesky Pole, a two run shot, and Jonny Gomes later in the inning drove home Brendan Harris on an RBI single to center field.
Jonathan Papelbon earned his first win of the season pitching a perfect top of the ninth inning allowing no hits on 15 pitches (11 for strikes). Reyes suffered his second loss of the season on the walk-off two-run homer by Ortiz.
