Ortiz Walk Offs
From SoSH
Contents |
Walk Off Home Runs
#1. September 25, 2002 (with Minnesota)
Minnesota Twins 7, Cleveland Indians 5 - 12 innings
Big Papi's first walk off dinger was his last homerun as a member of the Minnesota Twins. Ortiz' two run shot in the bottom of the 12th inning off lefty David Maurer beat the Cleveland Indians 7-5. The Twins had previously rallied in the bottom of the 9th after Eddie Guardado gave up a go-ahead homer to Ellis Burks in the top half. In the 9th, Doug Mientkiewicz led off with a single and advanced to second when Outfielder Coco Crisp momentarily bobbled the ball. Michael Cuddyer then drove in pinch runner Denny Hocking to set up Ortiz' extra-inning dramatics. Unfortunately for the Twinkies, and luckily for the Red Sox, Ortiz was just getting started.
#2. September 23, 2003
Boston 6, Baltimore Orioles 5 - 10 innings
David Ortiz dropped his first Walk-Off bomb with the Red Sox in the heat of the 2003 playoff push, beating the Baltimore Orioles in extra innings. Papi had already asserted himself as a clutch hitter in Boston, mainly with a Walk-Off wall ball against the Yankees in July that year. But this was David's initiation into Red Sox lore, as Ortiz took a Kurt Ainsworth offering over the Green Monster in the 10th inning to send the Fenway Faithful home knowing their magic number had dropped to 3. It was a first and a last for Sox fans, as this was the last time Big Papi would keep his helmet on in the celebratory Mosh Pit around home plate.
#3. April 11, 2004
Boston 6, Toronto Blue Jays 4 - 12 innings
In Curt Schilling's first career start at Fenway Park as a member of the Red Sox, Papi provided Schill a glimpse of what he could enjoy over the next couple years. Ortiz and the Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-4 in 12 innings that Easter Sunday, giving Mark Malaska (making his Sox debut) his only win in a Red Sox uniform. Big Papi's two run shot off Aquilino Lopez ended an affair that was already taking too long for Manny Ramirez. Before the at-bat Manny Ramirez told David, "Finish this, man. We don't get paid overtime". Ramirez was not alone in his hope that Ortiz would end it right there, as 34,000+ at Fenway had waited 12 innings in low 40's temperatures to see just what Papi delivered.
#4. October 8, 2004
Boston 8, Anaheim Angels 6 - 10 innings - 2004 ALDS
It does not get much more dramatic than a homerun that ends a game and a Playoff Series at the same time, but David Ortiz did just that to beat the Anaheim Angels in a sweep of the 2004 ALDS. The Red Sox had earlier relinquished a 6-2 lead in this game when Vladimir Guerrero blasted a Grand Slam off Mike Timlin in the 7th inning to tie it where it would stay until the 10th. But Ortiz came to the rescue as he shot a Jarrod Washburn offering over the Green Monster to send Boston back to the ALCS where history was about to be re-written.
#5. October 17, 2004
Boston 6, New York Yankees 4 - 12 innings - 2004 ALCS
Kicking off one of the most improbable comebacks in the history of sports, Kevin Millar, Dave Roberts, Bill Mueller, and eventually David Ortiz gave Red Sox Nation their first glimmer of hope in a Championship Series for the ages. After Millar drew a walk from Mariano Rivera to lead off the 9th, pinch runner Roberts swiped second base and was promptly driven in by Mueller to send the game into extras. Alan Embree and Curtis Leskanic worked three innings of scoreless relief to set up Big Papi's 12th inning bomb off Paul Quantrill to give the Sox their first of eight victories in a row, and started a sequence of remarkable events that you would most commonly find in a Hollywood Screenplay.
#6. June 2, 2005
Boston 6, Baltimore Orioles 4
Until this point, all of Papi's walkoff homers had occurred in extra innings with the score tied. A three-run shot to center in the 9th inning off lefty closer B.J. Ryan changed that in a hurry. On a full count with two outs, Ortiz brought home Mark Bellhorn and Edgar Renteria with him on his Walk-Off jaunt that gave Boston a thrilling 6-4 win on what was one strike away from being a 4-3 loss to the AL East leading Orioles.
#7. September 6, 2005
Boston 3, Anaheim 2
Ortiz' game ending blast off Angels reliever Scott Shields prompted John W. Henry and Larry Lucchino to bestow on Big Papi the highest honor a baseball player could ask for. A placque commemorating Ortiz' uncanny ability to deliver in the clutch was awarded to David with "The Greatest Clutch Hitter in the History of the Boston Red Sox" engraved on it. Less than a week later, Ortiz' two homeruns in Toronto were the deciding factor, with the second leading off the 11th inning to provide the winning margin
#8. June 11, 2006
Boston 5, Texas Rangers 4
By 2006, Big Papi was firmly entrenched as one of the premier sluggers in baseball. Akinori Otsuka was about to discover this first hand. Down two runs with two outs in the bottom of the 9th, Ortiz stepped to the plate to try and deliver the Sox a win in the first game of a doubleheader. Papi took a 2-2 delivery and sent it skyward toward the right field bleachers for a three-run dinger and the eighth Walk-Off homer of his career.
#9. June 24, 2006
Boston 5, Philadelphia Phillies 3 - 10 innings
Old friend Tom Gordon had been having a dominant year in the National League, although not having to face the likes David Ortiz regularly might have had something to do with that. But it was inevitable that Gordon would face Big Papi in the 10th inning on this Saturday afternoon tilt at Fenway Park. Gordon, probably best known for his wicked 12-to-6 curve, got Ortiz to swing and miss badly on consecutive pitches before he tried to drop another deuce in on him. Tommy learned his lesson in a hurry as Ortiz lobbed Gordon's 2-2 delivery into the covered seats in center for another miraculous Boston victory.
#10. July 31, 2006
Boston 9, Cleveland Indians 8
Trailing 8-6 heading into the bottom of the 9th, all of Red Sox Nation had one thought. Get one man on. David Ortiz was due up fourth. Alex Cora singled and the roar began. No double plays and Papi hits. Kevin Youkilis walked and everyone knew. He would get a shot. Mark Loretta popped up for the first out. Then Big Papi strode to the plate against young Fausto Carmona, throwing upper 90s gas. He watched 2 pitches sail out of the strike zone before he smashed a 3-run HR into the centerfield bleachers, giving the Red Sox an emotional 9-8 win.
#11. September 12, 2007
Boston 5, Tampa Bay Devil Rays 4
The Rays scored 4 in the first inning off Jon Lester. A 3-run HR by Papi in the third inning brought the Sox to within a run, and it remained a 4-3 game until the last of the 9th. With closer Al Reyes in to seal the deal for Tampa Bay, leadoff hitter Julio Lugo started things off with a walk. A flyout to short left by Dustin Pedroia brought Ortiz to the plate. Papi took the first pitch low and outside for a ball, then fouled off a letter-high fastball on the outside of the plate. The next two pitches also missed outside. On a 3-1 count, Reyes left a belt-high fastball on the inside of the plate that Ortiz turned on and lifted to deep right. Tampa Bay right fielder Delmon Young misread the ball, first heading to his left toward the foul pole before ranging back over his right shoulder. His recovery was too late, and the ball landed out of his reach in the first row of seats. The victory gave the Sox a 2-1 series win and kept the second-place Yankees 5 games back in the AL East heading into a critical 3-game weekend series between the rivals at Fenway.
Walk Off Hits
#1. April 4, 2000 (with Minnesota)
Minnesota 6, Tampa Bay Devil Rays 5
In really his first full season in the Majors, David Ortiz was coming off a 1999 campaign in which he only recorded 20 AB's due to injury. It didn't take long for Papi to show flashes of the brilliance he would display further down the road. In the second game of the 2000 season, Ortiz delivered a single off Roberto Hernandez to plate Christian Guzman with the winning run. This is Papi's first walk-off hit of any kind in the Major Leagues.
#2. July 31, 2002 (with Minnesota)
Minnesota 2, Chicago White Sox 1 - 10 innings
Ortiz singled with the bases loaded in the 10th inning off Antonio Osuna to score Luis Rivas with the deciding run. From 7/27 - 8/4, the Twins won four of their eight games in walk-off fashion, all in the 10th inning.
#3. July 26, 2003
Boston 5, New York Yankees 4
Papi Ortiz might have officially become " Big Papi " on this Mid-Summer day at Fenway Park. Ortiz' first Walk-Off hit as a Red Sox happened to come against the New York Yankees, endearing him to Red Sox nation instantaneously. Setting the table for Ortiz, Jeremy Giambi singled and stole the first base of his career as Jason Varitek struck out. Johnny Damon was then intentionally walked with Damian Jackson scheduled to hit. Papi was then called upon to pinch-hit with two outs in the 9th inning against Armando Benitez who had been acquired 10 days earlier. Ortiz proceeded to follow Grady Little's instructions of "Go get the Green Monster" by sending a laser mid-way up the wall to collect the win.
#4. June 11, 2004
Boston 2, Los Angeles Dodgers 1
6/11 - After a 2 out error by Manny Ramirez in the top of the ninth allowed the Dodgers to tie the game at 1, a David Ortiz single in 9th off Tom Martin scores Johnny Damon from 3rd for the win. Ortiz also hit a solo HR in 7th.
#5. October 18, 2004
Boston 5, New York Yankees 4 - 14 innings - 2004 ALCS
After staving off elimination the night before, Papi and the Red Sox continued their never-say-die ways in the longest Playoff game in baseball history. After battling back just to send the game into extra innings, Bronson Arroyo, Mike Myers, Alan Embree, and Tim Wakefield pitched five scoreless innings of relief to allow the Sox the opportunity to end this marathon game in the 14th. Johnny Damon walked with one out in the 14th inning, with Manny Ramirez pushing him to 2nd base on a two-out walk. Ortiz followed that with what can be looked back on as the hit might have sealed the Yankees' fate. Big Papi's two out single off Esteban Loaiza plated Damon with the game-winning run, propelling the Bo Sox into New York with about as much momentum as a team can have in baseball. There is little doubt among Red Sox Nation that we would still be looking for that 6th World Title if it weren't for David Ortiz and his simply unbelievable 2004 Postseason.
#6. September 29, 2005
Boston 5, Toronto Blue Jays 4
9/29 - David Ortiz Singled with one out against Blue Jays closer Miguel Batista in the 9th, with Edgar Renteria on first and Johnny Damon scoring from second. In the 8th, Ortiz had hit a solo HR to tie game.
#7. June 26, 2006
Boston 8, Philadelphia Phillies 7 - 12 innings
Once again, David Ortiz found himself in the batter's box with the game on the line. Most Sox followers had this one down in the win column before he had even reached the on deck circle. For the second game in a row, Big Papi was the deciding factor in a crazy game in which Sox pitching squandered a 6-1 lead in the 7th inning, to fall behind 7-6 in the 12th. After Kevin Youkilis singled in Coco Crisp and advanced to second on the throw home, Ortiz stepped in to face Clay Condrey. The only thing left to be decided was which way Papi would end it. This time, David sent a screaching liner into the left-centerfield gap to score Youkilis and give Craig Hansen his first Major League Win.
#8. July 29, 2006
Boston 7, Los Angeles Angels 6
Trailing 6-3, the Sox battled back to tie the game in the eighth inning -- David Ortiz got the rally started with a solo home run to dead center. In the bottom of the 11th, J.C. Romero was called in to face Ortiz with 2 outs, and runners on 1st and 2nd. On a 1-1 count, Ortiz grounded a single into left-center field, rendering the "Ortiz Shift" worthless. Alex Gonzalez raced around third to score, and the Red Sox were victorious, snapping a two-game slide.
List of Potential Walk-Off Plate Appearances
| Date | Opponent | Inning | Score | Situation | Result of PA | Notes | Final | * |
| 9/12/2007 | TB | 9th | 3-4 | 1st; 1 out | Homerun | Sox win 5-4 |
| |
| 8/15/2007 | TB | 9th | 5-6 | 2nd, 2 out | BB | Sox lose, 5-6 | ||
| 7/13/2007 | Toronto | 9th | 5-6 | 1st, 2nd; 1 out | Fly out | Sox lose 6-5 |
| |
| 7/1/2007 | Texas | 9th | 1-2 | 1st; 1 out | Fly out | Sox lose 2-1 | ||
| 8/20/2006 | New York | 9th | 5-5 | Empty; 0 out | Double | Out on force out at 3rd | Sox lose 5-8 in 10th |
|
| 8/12/2006 | Baltimore | 10th | 7-7 | 1st; 0 out | BB | Followed by Ramirez single with walk-off E7 | Sox win 8-7 | |
| 7/31/2006 | Cleveland | 9th | 6-8 | 1st, 2nd; 1 out | 3-run HR | Sox win 9-8 | * | |
| 7/29/2006 | Anaheim | 11th | 6-6 | 1st, 2nd; 2 out | RBI Single to left | Sox win 7-6 | * | |
| 7/29/2006 | Anaheim | 9th | 6-6 | 2nd; 1 out | IBB | Win with walk-off in 11th | " " | |
| 6/26/2006 | Philadelphia | 12th | 7-7 | 1st, 2nd; 2 out | RBI Single to center | Second walk-off in a row | Sox win 8-7 | * |
| 6/26/2006 | Philadelphia | 11th | 6-6 | 2nd; 1 out | IBB | Win with walk-off in 12th | " " | |
| 6/26/2006 | Philadelphia | 9th | 6-6 | Empty; 0 out | 6-3 | Win with walk-off in 12th | " " | |
| 6/24/2006 | Philadelphia | 10th | 3-3 | 1st; 1 out | 2-run HR | Sox win 5-3 | * | |
| 6/11/2006 | Texas | 9th | 2-4 | 1st, 2nd; 2 out | 3-run HR | 2 outs, 2 strikes | Sox win 5-4 | * |
| 9/29/2005 | Toronto | 9th | 4-4 | 1st, 2nd; 1 out | RBI single to left-center | Also hit HR in 8th to tie game | Sox win 5-4 | * |
| 9/16/2005 | Oakland | 10th | 2-2 | 1st, 3rd; 2 out | IBB to load bases | followed by Ramirez walk-off HBP | Sox win 3-2 | |
| 9/6/2005 | Anaheim | 9th | 2-2 | Empty; 1 out | 1-run HR | Sox win 3-2 | * | |
| 8/30/2005 | Tampa Bay | 9th | 6-6 | Empty; 1 out | BB | Scored winning run on Nixon single | Sox win 3-2 | |
| 6/2/2005 | Baltimore | 9th | 3-4 | 1st, 2nd; 2 out | 3-run HR | 3-2 count | Sox win 6-4 | * |
| 10/18/2004 | NY | 14th | 4-4 | 1st, 2nd; 2 out | RBI single | ALCS Game 5 (Sox trail 3-2) | Sox win 5-4 | * |
| 10/18/2004 | NY | 12th | 4-4 | Empty; 1 out | BB; caught stealing | Win with walk-off in 14th | " " | |
| 10/18/2004 | NY | 10th | 4-4 | Empty; 0 out | K | Win with walk-off in 14th | " " | |
| 10/17/2004 | NY | 12th | 4-4 | 1st; 0 out | 2-run HR | ALCS Game 4 (Sox trail 3-1) | Sox win 6-4 | * |
| 10/17/2004 | NY | 9th | 4-4 | Loaded; 2 out | Pop up | Win with walk-off homer in 12th | " " | |
| 10/8/2004 | Anaheim | 10th | 4-4 | 1st; 2 out | 2-run HR | ALDS Game 3 (Sox win 3-0) | Sox win 6-4 | * |
| 9/23/2004 | Baltimore | 9th | 7-9 | 1st, 2nd; 2 out | Fly out to deep right | Sox lose 9-7 | ||
| 9/22/2004 | Baltimore | 9th | 6-6 | Empty; 0 out | Reach on infield single | Roberts pinch ran; Cabrera walk-off HR in 12th | Sox 7-6 | |
| 6/11/2004 | LA Dodgers | 9th | 1-1 | 2nd, 3rd; 0 out | RBI single to right field | Sox win 2-1 | * | |
| 5/30/2004 | Seattle | 11th | 7-7 | Empty; 1 out | K | David McCarty walk-off in 12th | Sox win 9-7 | |
| 5/29/2004 | Seattle | 9th | 4-5 | 1st, 2 outs | Fly out to CF | Sox lose, 5-4 | ||
| 5/7/2004 | KC | 9th | 6-6 | Empty; 0 out | K | Followed Bellhorn tying HR; Varitek walk-off double | Sox win 7-6 | |
| 4/11/2004 | Toronto | 12th | 4-4 | 1st; 0 out | 2-run HR | Sox win 6-4 | * | |
| 4/11/2004 | Toronto | 9th | 4-4 | 2nd; 2 outs | Fly out to center | Win with walk-off in 12th | " " | |
| 10/4/2003 | Oakland | 10th | 1-1 | Emtpy; 2 out | Line out | Nixon 2-run HR in 12th | Sox win 3-1 | |
| 9/23/2003 | Baltimore | 10th | 5-5 | Empty; 0 out | HR | Sox down 2-5 entering bottom of 9th | Sox win 6-5 | * |
| 8/23/2003 | Seattle | 10th | 5-5 | 1st; 1 out | Pop up | Millar walk-off double | Sox win 6-5 | |
| 7/26/2003 | NY | 9th | 4-4 | 1st, 2nd; 2 out | Wall-ball pinch RBI single | Sox win 5-4 | * | |
| 7/19/2003 | Toronto | 9th | 4-4 | 1st/2nd; 2 out | Ground out 4-2 | Ramirez advanced on WP; Nixon walk-off single in 10th | Sox win 5-4 | |
| 6/15/2003 | Houston | 12th | 2-2 | Empty; 0 out | 1u | Sox win in 14th on Ramirez single | " " | |
| 6/15/2003 | Houston | 10th | 2-2 | 2nd; 1 out | IBB | Sox win in 14th on Manny single | Sox win 3-2 | |
| 9/25/2002 | Cleveland | 12th | 5-5 | 1st; 1 out | 2-run HR | Twins win 7-5 | * | |
| 9/25/2002 | Cleveland | 10th | 5-5 | 1st; 2 out | K | Win with walk-off homer in 12th | " | |
| 8/4/2002 | KC | 10th | 4-4 | 1st; 0 out | Single to left | Koskie walk-off groundout | Twins win 5-4 | |
| 8/3/2002 | KC | 9th | 2-2 | Empty; 1 out | Foul out to 3B | Rivas HR in 10th | Twins win 4-3 | |
| 7/31/2002 | Chicago | 10th | 1-1 | Loaded; 1 out | Single to RF | Twins win 2-1 | * | |
| 6/10/2002 | Atlanta | 12th | 5-5 | 1st; 1 out | Pinch K | Guzman walk-off double in 15th | Twins win 6-5 | |
| 5/30/2002 | Anaheim | 9th | 6-6 | 1st, 2nd; 0 out | Pop up | Guzman walk-off sac fly in 10th | Twins win 7-6 | |
| 8/20/2001 | Tor | 9th | 2-3 | 1st, 2nd; 2 out | 4-3 | Twins scored 2 runs earlier in inning | Twins lose 2-3 | |
| 8/3/2001 | KC | 10th | 6-7 | 1st; 1 out | Game-tying RBI double | Lifted for PR Allen, who scores winning run on Jones single | Twins win 8-7 | |
| 9/20/2000 | Texas | 9th | 3-3 | 1st; 2 out | Pinch fly-out | 10 innings | Twins lose 4-6 | |
| 8/27/2000 | Detroit | 9th | 5-6 | 1st, 3rd; 1 out | Game-tying RBI 5-3 | Cummings walk-off RBI single in 10th | Twins win 7-6 | |
| 5/8/2000 | Cleveland | 10th | 2-3 | 1st; 1 out | 1u | Twins lose 2-3 | ||
| 5/4/2000 | Detroit | 9th | 6-6 | 1st/2nd; 2 out | 3-1 | SB during at bat; 11 innings | Twins lose 6-8 | |
| 5/3/2000 | Seattle | 9th | 4-4 | Emtpy; 1 out | K | Guzman sac fly in 10th | Twins win 5-4 | |
| 4/6/2000 | TB | 9th | 6-7 | 1st; 1 out | Fly out to deep left | Twins lose 6-7 | ||
| 4/4/2000 | TB | 9th | 5-5 | 2nd; 2 out | RBI single | The legend is born | Twins win 6-5 | * |
| 9/30/1999 | Detroit | 9th | 5-6 | 1st; 2 out | Line-out to deep short | Twins lose 5-6 | ||
| 7/23/1998 | Anaheim | 10th | 5-6 | 1st; 1 out | Fly out to shallow L/CF | Twins lose 5-6 | ||
| 4/16/1998 | Seattle | 9th | 2-2 | Empty; 1 out | Infield single | Lifted for PR; A. Rodriguez hits go-ahead HR in 10th | Twins lose 2-3 | |
| 9/17/1997 | Cleveland | 9th | 6-7 | 1st, 2nd; 2 out | Fly out to CF | Twins scored 3 runs earlier in inning | Twins lose 6-7 |
Statistics in Potential Walk-Off Plate Appearances
| G | AB | H | HR | RBI | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | Walk-offs | W-O % | Team record |
| 50 | 51 | 22 | 10 | 31 | 8 | 6 | .432 | .508 | 1.039 | 1.547 | 18 | 36% | 34-16 |
