Ortiz hits 499th, 500th HRs in Rays' 10-4 loss to Red Sox

 

Matt Moore was in the wrong place at the wrong time Saturday night, facing David Ortiz as the Boston slugger was poised to reach a major milestone.

Ortiz homered twice to become the 27th player in major league history to reach 500 homers, and the Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 10-4.

"You never want to be on that side of history," said Moore, who also gave up homers to Mookie Betts and Dustin Pedroia. "We're probably going to see that swing quite a bit over the next ... however long, but I didn't execute. He did his job and good for him. It's a major accomplishment."
With an overflow crowd in the right field stands on its feet and chanting "Let's go Papi!," Ortiz reached the milestone by lining a shot to right-center on a 2-2 pitch leading off the fifth. He connected for No. 499 in the first.


"Tonight, I got two pitches that I don't see too much, especially from the Rays," Ortiz said. "My first home run, I don't know if Moore was trying to go off the plate or outside but it was straight. As a hitter, we make our living off of pitchers' mistakes."
Ortiz pumped his right arm as he ran toward first base. His teammates emptied the dugout and bullpen to celebrate the big hit with him.
The Rays said the fan who got the ball wished to remain anonymous, but Ortiz said the fan returned the ball.


Ortiz has eight homers in his last 14 games and 34 this season to become the fourth player to reach the milestone while playing for the Red Sox. He joins Jimmie Foxx (1940), Ted Williams (1960) and Manny Ramirez (2008), who also hit their 500th homers on the road.
"I know he's going to enjoy it with his buddies over there," said Rays manager Kevin Cash, a former Boston teammate of Ortiz. "Obviously you don't like to see it done against your club, but saying that, it's pretty special."
Ortiz was lifted for a pinch-runner in the seventh after flaring a single to center for his third hit in four at-bats. He received a partial standing ovation from the crowd of 20,698 while returning to the dugout.
Moore (1-4) gave up eight runs and nine hits over five innings.
Rick Porcello (8-12) got the win after allowing three runs and five hits in seven innings.
John Jaso and Richie Shaffer homered for the Rays, and Luke Maile drove in a run with a seventh-inning double, his first major league hit.
BAD RECORDS
Moore, who has had a rough season in his return from Tommy John surgery, has thrown five-or-fewer innings in nine straight starts, extending the longest streak in franchise history. The four home runs he gave up Saturday matched a club record for a left-hander. He has given up 14 runs on 18 hits in two starts against the Red Sox this season.

TRAINER'S ROOM
Red Sox: INF Hanley Ramirez (right shoulder) ran the bases in addition to taking batting practice. ... INF Brock Holt (upper back spasms) is available on an emergency-only basis.
Rays: RF Steven Souza Jr. is 2 for 6 in two games since returning from a broken left hand.
UP NEXT
Red Sox: LHP Rich Hill will make his first big league start Sunday since July 27, 2009, against Kansas City while with Baltimore. His last appearance in the major's came on Sept 23, 2014.
Rays: LHP Drew Smyly (2-2) has given up 13 runs over 26 innings in five starts since returning from a torn left labrum. Two of those outings were scoreless, while he allowed four runs or more in the others.