Red Sox's Ortiz sets franchise record with ninth 30-homer season
David Ortiz is climbing the charts to history, and the rest of the Boston Red Sox are locked into watching every swing.
Ortiz hit his 496th career home run, reaching 30 in a season for a team-record ninth time as the Red Sox beat the Philadelphia Phillies 9-2 on Saturday.
"You know we're all engaged every time he comes to the plate," Boston's interim manager Torey Lovullo said. "It's an exciting time for every one of us. No matter what we try to say, downplay it, he's reaching a special milestone and it's an exciting time for all. He's a great leader and a great friend to everybody on this team."
The 39-year-old Ortiz surpassed Hall of Famer Ted Williams' eight 30-homer seasons with the Red Sox. Big Papi set the mark with a drive that hooked around the Pesky Pole, capping an eight-run fourth inning.
He's four away from becoming the 27th player in major-league history with 500 homers. The slugger left the park without talking to the media.
