Call it a coincidence or call it a well-received wakeup call. The fact of the matter is the Boston Red Sox have not trailed in the World Series since David Ortiz gathered his teammates together in the dugout during Game 4.
It was the 5th inning with the score tied 1-1. Boston was trailing 2-1 in the series, and a loss would have put the Red Sox in the dreaded 3-1 hole that is nearly impossible to crawl out of. Had that happened, they would haven been in legitimate danger of not returning home for another game at Fenway Park in 2013. Instead, Jonny Gomes blasted a three-run homer in the next inning to put the Sox on top 4-1. They have not looked back since.
Ortiz is carrying the Red Sox, both physically and emotionally. After going 3-for-4 with another RBI in Monday night’s Game 5 victory, Big Papi is now 11-for-15 in the World Series. That’s a .733 batting average. He has also walked four times, which means he has reached base in 15 of 20 plate appearances — a .750 on-base percentage. Ortiz’s teammates and coaches would tell you his Game 4 speech was just as important as his ridiculously hot bat.
