'Big Papi' powers Red Sox past Devil Rays

Sep 13, 2007, 3:09 GMT

Boston, MA - David Ortiz provided all the offense for Boston on Wednesday, belting two home runs, a three-run homer in the third inning and a game-ending two-run homer in the ninth, as the Red Sox came back to down the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 5-4, in the rubber match of a three-game set.

A day after squandering an 8-1 lead that turned into a 16-10 loss, the D-Rays plated four runs in the first inning, only to see Ortiz erase their lead with two longballs, numbers 30 and 31 on the season for the Red Sox designated hitter.

Dustin Pedroia finished 2-for-4 and scored, and Julio Lugo scored twice for the Red Sox, who have won three of four, and maintained their five-game lead over the New York Yankees, who also won on Wednesday. Jon Lester lasted just 3 2/3 innings, surrendering eight hits and four runs, with five strikeouts and four walks. Closer Jonathan Papelbon (1-2) picked up his first win of the season for pitching a scoreless ninth.

B.J. Upton homered for the Devil Rays, who have lost two straight after winning three in a row. Edwin Jackson scattered eight hits and three runs over six innings, fanning six and walking one. Al Reyes (2-3) surrendered Ortiz's game-winner, a homer that could have been a long, loud flyout if rightfielder Delmon Young hadn't misplayed it.

Lugo walked to lead off the ninth, and Pedroia flied out to left, bringing Ortiz to the plate. 'Big Papi' lifted a high fly ball deep into the corner in right. Young ran towards the foul pole, but drifted a few feet back as he realized he had misjudged it. The homer fell barely over the short fence in right, an easily-caught flyout if Young had judged it correctly.

He didn't, though, and Ortiz and the Red Sox walked off with another win.

'I didn't go with the wind,' said Young. 'I had a chance if I stayed on the line. But it went towards the back part of the curve (of the wall). You're just trying to go catch it. But he hit it good enough to get out, because he's really strong, and got it into the jet stream, and just got over.'

'I don't know. I thought it was too high,' said Ortiz. 'That was a good pitch by Reyes but I put a good swing on it. It looked like a cutter in. That's a pitch that you throw to guys who you don't want to get extended.'

Just like on Tuesday, the Devil Rays jumped out to an early lead. Akinori Iwamura led off with a walk, moved up on Carl Crawford's ground out, and came home on Carlos Pena's single to center. Upton followed with a drive to deep right, a two-run homer. After a Young groundout, Brendan Harris doubled to right. Jonny Gomes plated Harris with a single to right-center, giving the D-Rays a 4-0 lead.

Lugo singled to right to lead off the third, and Pedroia walked, setting the table for Ortiz, who belted a homer to right. Jackson rebounded, striking out Kevin Youkilis, Jason Varitek, and Brandon Moss around a J.D. Drew double to end the inning.

Game Notes

This was Ortiz's 16th walkoff hit as a member of the Red Sox, including the postseason. 10 of those 16 walkoff hits have been home runs...He was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts against Reyes prior to the home run...The Red Sox are 11-4 against the D-Rays in 2007, and have won 12 of 15 in the series at Boston...Lester saw his three-start win streak come to an end.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

.