That was first evident during the 2004 ALCS against the Yankees, when Ortiz had two game-winning hits in less than 24 hours in two must-win games for the Red Sox. A few days earlier, Ortiz had sent the Angels home for the winter with an ALDS-clinching home run. In that post-season, he had three walk-off hits in a span of four home games.
His July 31, 2006 home run off Fausto Carmona may be my favourite non-playoff walk-off hit. Ortiz was on an amazing streak of winning games and had hit a game-winner only two days earlier. With Boston down by two and two on, I probably would have bet my year's salary on Ortiz winning the game if someone had asked. It felt like everyone in the park knew it would happen (and had played it out in their minds), including Carmona. Especially Carmona. He threw two balls to build a little tension and then - BAM! - Ortiz crushed a three-run homer. As I recall, I did not cheer. I just stared at the TV and laughed.
Ortiz may no longer be that guy, the slugger who makes pitchers quake in their cleats, but his past heroics remain in the back of everyone's mind when he comes to the plate, claps those big hands together, and digs in. A game-winning hit always seems (to me, anyway) extremely likely. Even with a drop-off in success in recent seasons, Ortiz's slash line of .404/.541/1.128 (1.669 OPS) is pretty damn impressive.
2003-2011
PA AB H HR RBI BB
2003 7 6 2 1 2 1
2004 14 13 5 3 8 1
2005 5 3 3 2 5 2
2006 10 7 5 3 10 3
2007 7 5 1 1 2 1
2008 9 5 1 0 0 3
2009 3 3 1 1 1 0
2010 6 5 1 0 3 1
2011 1 0 0 0 0 1
TOTALS 62 47 19 11 31 14Ortiz Walk-Off Opportunities (Game-Winning Hits in Red):
2003 Date Opp Inn MOB Out Score Pitcher Result 0615 Hou 10 -2- 1 2-2 Dotel BBI 12 --- 0 2-2 Bland 3U 0719 Tor 9 -2- 2 4-4 Acevado 4-3 0726 NYY 9 12- 2 4-4 Benitez Single 0823 Sea 10 1-- 1 6-6 Rhodes P6 0923 Bal 10 --- 0 5-5 Ainsworth Home Run ALDS Date Opp Inn MOB Out Score Pitcher Result 1004 Oak 10 12- 2 1-1 Mecir L6 ALCS None 2004 Date Opp Inn MOB Out Score Pitcher Result 0411 Tor 9 -2- 2 4-4 Kershner F8 12 1-- 0 4-4 Lopez Home Run 0415 Bal 9 --- 1 7-7 Ryan F8 0507 KC 9 --- 0 6-6 MacDougal K 0529 Sea 9 1-- 2 4-5 Guardado F8 0530 Sea 11 --- 1 7-7 Putz K 0611 LAD 9 -23 0 1-1 Martin Single 0923 Bal 9 12- 2 7-9 Ryan F9 ALDS Date Opp Inn MOB Out Score Pitcher Result 1008 Ana 10 1-- 2 6-6 Washburn Home Run ALCS Date Opp Inn MOB Out Score Pitcher Result 1017 NYY 9 123 2 4-4 Rivera P4 12 1-- 0 4-4 Quantrill Home Run 1018 NYY 10 --- 0 4-4 Heredia K 12 --- 1 4-4 Loaiza BB 14 12- 2 4-4 Loaiza Single WS None 2005 Date Opp Inn MOB Out Score Pitcher Result 0602 Bal 9 12- 2 3-4 Ryan Home Run 0830 TB 9 --- 1 6-6 Borowski BB 0906 LAA 9 --- 1 2-2 Shields Home Run 0916 Oak 10 1-3 1 2-2 Cruz BBI 0929 Tor 9 12- 1 4-4 Batista Single ALDS None 2006 Date Opp Inn MOB Out Score Pitcher Result 0611 Tex 9 12- 2 2-4 Otsuka Home Run 0624 Phi 10 1-- 1 3-3 Gordon Home Run 0626 Phi 9 --- 0 6-6 Cormier 4-1 11 -2- 1 6-6 Gordon BBI 12 12- 2 7-7 Condrey Single 0729 LAA 9 -2- 1 6-6 Rodriguez BBI 11 12- 1 6-6 Romero Single 0731 Cle 9 12- 1 6-8 Carmona Home Run 0812 Bal 10 1-- 0 7-7 Chen BB 0909 KC 10 -2- 1 4-4 Sisco 6-3 2007 Date Opp Inn MOB Out Score Pitcher Result 0701 Tex 9 1-- 2 1-2 Gagne P3 0713 Tor 9 12- 1 5-6 Accardo F8 0815 TB 9 -2- 2 5-6 Reyes BB 0912 TB 9 1-- 1 3-4 Reyes Home Run 0916 NYY 9 123 2 3-4 Rivera P6 ALDS Date Opp Inn MOB Out Score Pitcher Result 1005 LAA 9 -2- 2 3-3 Rodriguez BBI ALCS Date Opp Inn MOB Out Score Pitcher Result 1013 Cle 10 --- 0 3-3 Mastny 6-3 WS None 2008 Date Opp Inn MOB Out Score Pitcher Result 0429 Tor 9 --- 2 0-0 Halladay BB 0430 Tor 9 --- 0 1-1 Downs Single 0801 Oak 10 --- 1 1-1 Street P5 12 --- 0 1-1 Embree K looking 0909 TB 9 1-- 1 4-5 Percival F9 0910 TB 10 -2- 0 1-1 Bradford BBI 12 1-- 0 1-1 Howell 1-3 SAC ALDS Date Opp Inn MOB Out Score Pitcher Result 1005 LAA 10 --- 1 4-4 Rodriguez BB ALCS Date Opp Inn MOB Out Score Pitcher Result 1016 TBR 9 --- 1 7-7 Howell K 2009 Date Opp Inn MOB Out Score Pitcher Result 0424 NYY 11 --- 0 4-4 Marte K 0703 Sea 10 --- 0 5-5 Jakubauskas 6-3 0826 CWS 9 --- 1 2-2 Pena Home Run ALDS None 2010 Date Opp Inn MOB Out Score Pitcher Result 0416 TB 9 --- 0 1-1 Cormier 3-1 11 123 0 1-1 Cormier FC/3-2 0717 Tex 9 -2- 1 1-2 Lee 4-3 11 -23 0 2-2 Ogando BBI 0731 Det 9 123 1 2-4 Coke Double, 3 RBI* 0821 Tor 9 1-- 1 4-4 Carlson GIDP/3-6-1 2011 Date Opp Inn MOB Out Score Pitcher Result 0504 LAA 10 --- 2 3-3 Bell BB* Ortiz hit a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth the day before, but the Tigers led 6-1, so the Red Sox still trailed by one run, and they lost the game 6-5.
Although you mention he made those 3 outs in 04-06 looking at them the way you laid it out - he still ended up hitting the walk-off in each of those games! And with that the legend was born!
ReplyDeleteWe were sitting in the outfield stands for the 7/29/06 single against LAA! Extra innings fun.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comprehensive analysis, Allan. An amazing stretch: 11 for 14 with 7 HR and 20 RBI.
Kathryn, I was there too. It's funny, I posted a bunch of video stills at the time, so I should go back and find that old Hi-8 tape and post some video on YouTube. (I originally posted my video of Papi's walkoff hit but that account was taken down due to other stuff, so at the very least I should re-post that hit.) Anyway, look for your tiny little self in my crowd shots....
ReplyDelete1.669 OPS? Sick.
ReplyDeletehis 19 hits
ReplyDelete7 singles
1 double
11 home runs
Jere, didn't we do this in Balitmore too?
ReplyDelete"Jere, didn't we do this in Balitmore too?"
ReplyDeleteYeah, the Flutie game!
This is great to see it spelled out like this. It's fun to look over the list and realize how many of them I was present for. That 7/31/06 game is one of my favorites. I still get chills thinking about that 9th inning and how I knew Papi would take care of things.
ReplyDelete