With Ortiz surrounded by cameras, and a plane waiting to take the team to Baltimore, it was brisk, slightly brusque, and very businesslike.
“I wasn’t distracted. We weren’t talking about it. We’re having enough problems trying to win games right now to worry about other things,’’ said Dustin Pedroia. “[Ortiz] swung the bat great. He’s been swinging the bat well.
“We need that right now, and hopefully he can keep it going and we can go on a run.’’
The win meant a four-game split with last-place Oakland and four wins on the seven-game homestand. The Sox now take to the road for a nine-game trip, all against the AL East: Baltimore, Tampa Bay, New York. Boston’s 5-8 record since the All-Star break has sent the Sox into second place, looking up at the Yankees.
All of which made Ortiz’s heroics even more meaningful. The game-changing homer is something Sox fans have grown used to seeing, but it was the first time this season that he delivered one of his big swings. He also, according to Mike Lowell, who was with Ortiz in the on-deck circle, called his shot.
“I was next to him, and he told me he was going to hit a home run,’’ Lowell said. “He’s probably offensively the biggest key to our team. He’s that one bat that you definitely fear. If he gets going, our offense really seems to be able to put up runs.’’
Ortiz’s blast came with the Sox trailing, 5-3, and came about because of a little luck. After Pedroia grounded into a double play, Kevin Youkilis sent a lazy fly that looked to be the final out toward right fielder Jack Cust. But Cust lost the ball in the sun and didn’t get a glove on it, allowing Youkilis to stroll into second with a double. After Jason Bay walked, Breslow was summoned to face Ortiz.
With the count 2-and-1, Ortiz sent a fastball to the deepest part of the park, two rows beyond the Sox’ bullpen. It was his 14th home run of the season; 13 have come since June 6.
