Steroid-Free David Ortiz Rallies Boston Red Sox to Victory

After being informed that he was on “The List”, Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz had a game to play, the series finale against the Oakland Athletics. He was frustrated and disappointed, just like his teammates and fans, and took his anger out on Gio Gonzalez, the A’s 23-year old starting pitcher.

He clocked the first pitch he saw off the Green Monster for his 22nd double of the season, moving Jason Bay, who walked to begin the second inning, over to third base.

Boston scored one run in the frame and their 1-0 lead stood until the sixth inning. Starting pitcher Jon Lester, who walked none and allowed six hits over the first five innings, issued a one-out walk to Orlando Cabrera that fueled his implosion.

Former Red Sox great Nomar Garciaparra, who was serenaded with applause upon reaching the plate, singled to continue his torrid month. Jack Cust followed by drawing his ninth walk against Boston this season, loading the bases.

The bases were cleared soon enough, with rookie Tommy Everidge tying the game with a sacrifice fly, Bobby Crosby giving the Athletics the lead with a double, and Rajai Davis adding insurance with a two-run twobagger.

Lester’s once promising outing ended in disappointing fashion, silencing the sellout crowd. But who was there to brighten his fans and team’s spirits? Big Papi Ortiz.

Ortiz patiently worked a one-out walk in the bottom of the sixth, then after a wild pitch moved him to second base, he scored on a double by Mike Lowell. Leave it to Ortiz, a determined, angered, and rejuvenated Ortiz at that, to fuel another rally.

He wasn’t about to make this day more disappointing to Red Sox Nation than it already was. For now, he wanted to let his bat do the talking.  That’s fine by me.

So once Ortiz strode to the plate in the seventh with two on with two out and his team down two, it was a forgone conclusion that he would deliver. Jason Bay walked again and Kevin Youkilis doubled him over to third to set his stage.

He took ball one, then was late on a high fastball, fouling it back into the crowd. He took a similar pitch that missed inside, putting him into a hitter’s count.

Craig Breslow, a former Red Sox prospect, inexplicably challenged him again with another fastball. A month ago, throwing three straight fastballs to Ortiz wouldn’t have been a problem, but not to the Ortiz with a steroid cloud hanging over his head.

Ortiz didn’t release all of his anger with his second inning double. No, he still had plenty bottled up, hopefully enough to last the rest of the season. He relinquished a bit more on Breslow’s mistake that was thrown low, in Ortiz’s wheelhouse. The slugger didn’t miss it, clubbing the offering high and deep to centerfield.

Upon contact, the crowd rose as one, thrusting their arms in the air in celebration. Ortiz’s fourteenth home-run of his nightmarish season landed 420 feet from where he stood. Everyone was clapping, cheering on the player who made their 2004 World Series run possible.

The sound was deafening as Ortiz headed home. As he touched home plate, he slapped hands with Bay and Youkilis then gave Lowell a huge hug. This was no ordinary home run.

Manager Terry Francona, waiting on the top step of the dugout, slapped hands with Ortiz. He received high-fives all around from his teammates. They knew of his steroid use, but it didn’t matter to them. What mattered was the present, Ortiz’s blast and the smiles that followed.

On the New England Sports Network broadcast, the camera focused on a boy probably around the age of ten standing in the front row dressed solely in Red Sox gear. He was full of joy, celebrating his hero’s home run. He could have known about Ortiz’s past steroid use, but you couldn’t tell.

f he didn’t however, when he eventually heard the news, hopefully he reminded himself of of how happy he was at the ballpark. How happy he was to see one of his favorite players, steroid-free, lead his Red Sox to victory. Hopefully he forgave Ortiz, as we all should.