Ortiz: Red Sox is “What I Am”

Today is the 75th anniversary of Mr. Ted Williams‘ infamous “red seat” home run at Fenway Park. It’s a fun story, though many question its veracity. If you’re having trouble reading the caption in the above photo just click on the image to expand it.

Red Sox Fly to Fenway for Five

The Red Sox are back home now for just five games after a 5-5 road trip that, actually, could have been a lot worse. Boston was outscored 46-49 over the ten games, but outscored 1-17 in two particularly nasty drubbings at the hands of the Yankees this week.

On Wednesday the team ran into a resurgent CC Sabathia. Boston has had some success against Sabathia previous but not this time. The burly pitcher improved to 7-2 on the season after beating Boston easily with 8.0 IP of shutout baseball.

Sabathia is on roll with his most pre-All-Star Break wins since 2013. Wednesday’s was his fifth straight win. He has a 1.11 ERA during that stretch. More importantly to New York, Carsten Charles is now 6-0 with a 1.25 ERA in his seven starts following a Yankees loss this season.

Now, some other news of note for Red Sox fans:

• What a memorable week for the Reds. Cincinnati native Scooter Gennett became the club’s first ever player to belt four home runs in a game and just the 17th in Major League history. Gennett and the Cardinals Mark Whitten (September 7, 1993) are the only players to accomplish the feat while including a grand slam. Only one Boston player managed four home runs in a game: Bobby Lowe on May 30, 1894 while playing for the Beaneaters, the forerunners of the Boston Braves. Lowe’s was the first recorded 4 HR game ever.
• There were some rocky moments early in his Red Sox tenure but Joe Kelly sure has found his rhythm. Kelly has not allowed a run in any of his 13 appearances this season. What is more, in now 40 relief outings, including the postseason, Kelly is 4-0 with a 1.16 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP.
• All silliness to the contrary, David Ortiz is not suiting up for a major league return. “I’m happy,” Ortiz says. “I did the right thing.” The 10-time All-Star and World Series hero says he’ll be working for the Red Sox at some point.  “We’re going back and forth,” Papi says, “And at some point it’s going to happen. That organization is what I am.”
• Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa, and even Babe Ruth have “baggage” associated with their names, but how can you not feel good for Albert Pujols who this week joined them and four others in the 600 home run club? For extra emphasis, Pujols became the first ever to hit a grand slam for his 600th. Pujols is just the third player in history with 600 home runs and 600 doubles in his career, joining Hank Aaron and Bonds. Pujols is 141 RBI away from 2,000 and 123 hits away from 3,000.