Ortiz hits go-ahead HR in Red Sox’s win
July 30, 2009
BOSTON (AP)—With a flair for the dramatic and a litany of game-winning hitsthat propelled the Boston Red Sox to two World Series championships, David Ortiz(notes)earned his reputation as one of baseball’s best sluggers and a player who comesthrough in the clutch.
On Thursday, he proved equally adept at handling off-the-field pressure.
Hours after a reporter “blindsided” him with the news that he was on thelist of more than 100 major leaguers who tested positive forperformance-enhancing drugs in 2003, Ortiz hit a go-ahead homer that sent theRed Sox to an 8-5 victory over the Oakland Athletics.
“Right now, I have no answers,” Ortiz said in the clubhouse afterward, hiseyes hidden behind dark sunglasses. “I’m going to get to the bottom of this.”
The New York Times, citing unidentified lawyers with knowledge of theresults, reported just before Thursday’s game that Ortiz was on the list ofplayers who came up positive during survey testing six years ago. The list wassupposed to be confidential, and Ortiz claimed that he didn’t know he was on ituntil a reporter informed him before the game.
Series at a Glance Oakland 3 Boston 8 Mon, Jul 27 – Final Oakland 9 Boston 8 Tue, Jul 28 – Final 11th Oakland 8 Boston 6 Wed, Jul 29 – Final Oakland 5 Boston 8 Thu, Jul 30 – Final
“This happened right before our game, and the news blindsided me,” he saidin a statement handed out by the Red Sox media relations department but withoutthe team’s logo or letterhead. “Based on the way I have lived my life, I’msurprised to learn I tested positive. … You know me—I will not hide and Iwill not make excuses.”
But if the news bothered him, he didn’t show it during the game.
“I know David,” said former Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra(notes), who hadthree hits for the A’s. “That guy is just a solid individual and cares aboutthe game and what he does and I just hope for him he’s doing all right. He didall right today.”
Ortiz doubled and scored Boston’s first run in the second inning, thenwalked and hustled to second on a wild pitch in the sixth. He came up again inthe seventh with two on and two outs and Boston trailing 5-3, well on its way toa three-game losing streak that would have been its first at Fenway Park in morethan a year.
Ortiz hit a 1-2 pitch from Craig Breslow(notes) (4-5) to right-center, over the RedSox bullpen and to the right of the 420 foot sign that marks the deepest part ofthe ballpark. The sold-out crowd rose for a standing ovation that didn’t stopuntil Ortiz came out of the dugout for a curtain call.
“I believe David will be OK,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. “Ididn’t have time in the seventh inning to think about someone’s mentalcapabilities. I was just glad the ball left the ballpark.”
Fans, background, cheer Boston… AP – Jul 30, 5:30 pm EDT
Manny Delcarmen(notes) (3-2) got four outs for the win, Daniel Bard(notes) pitched aperfect eighth and Jonathan Papelbon(notes) worked the ninth for his 26th save.
Many of the fans had not yet heard of the newspaper report; if they did,they did not hold back their support for the slugger who was a key part ofBoston’s 2004 and ’07 World Series titles. (Exiled outfielder Manny Ramirez(notes), whowas on both those teams and was the Series MVP in ’04, was also reported to beon the drug list.)
Ortiz’s teammates stood to greet him with high-fives in the dugout, and theysaid afterward that they would stand behind him. Many bristled at the suggestionthat the World Series titles were tainted.
“I so want to get past this,” third baseman Mike Lowell(notes) said. “I don’tfeel bad about winning the World Series, and I’m not going to give any of therings back.”
Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said the team admired Ortiz’swillingness to address the allegations—when he has more answers—and keep thestory from becoming a distraction in the clubhouse.
“The organization supports him. His teammates support him. It’s easy tosupport him with the approach he’s taking,” Epstein said. “I’ve known him fora long time. I respect him as a person. I care about him. He’s meant a lot to usand our organization. We fully support him.”
NOTES: Boston won for just the fourth time in 12 games. … Jon Lester(notes)allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks, striking out two in 5 2-3innings. Oakland starter Gio Gonzalez(notes) gave up three runs on five hits and fourwalks, striking out eight before leaving with one on and one out and the A’sleading 4-2. … Jacoby Ellsbury(notes) was held without a hit after six straightmultihit games. He was also caught stealing for the eighth time in 54 tries.
