The Boston Red Sox faced the possibility of going down two games to the Detroit Tigers in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series (ACLS) before David Ortiz stepped up to the plate and changed his team's fortunes with one swing.
With the bases loaded and down by four runs, Ortiz sailed a first-pitch line drive just out of Torii Hunter's reach and over the short Fenway Park right field wall in the eighth inning of Game 2 to tie the game, giving the team new life, and setting it up for Jarrod Saltalamacchia to be a hero in the ninth, hitting a walkoff single to seal the 6-5 come-from-behind victory over the Tigers.
"That's what he does. He's an amazing hitter," said Tigers Game 2 starting pitcher Max Scherzer. "He's an amazing postseason hitter. He's clutch. Any given moment, a swing of the bat, he can always take you deep."
Scherzer, the league leader in wins, took a no-hitter and a 5-0 lead into the sixth inning, but watched the Tigers bullpen implode and give up the win to the Red Sox. Scherzer's no-hit bid came one day after Anibal Sanchez and four relievers came within two outs of the first combined postseason no-hitter in baseball history in Game 1 of the ALCS.
Hunter thought he had a bead on the ball as a hustled back trying to catch Ortiz's liner, only to fall over the short wall that separates the Red Sox bullpen from the outfield.
"I was trying my best to just stop that ball from going over the fence," said Hunter. "I'd sacrifice my body if I have to. I've done that my whole career. This is postseason. I'd die on the field for this."
The Tigers will send 2011 Cy Young and Most Valuable Player award winner, Justin Verlander (13-12, 3.46 ERA) in Game 3, to the mound Tuesday night at Cormerica Park with the Red Sox going with John Lackey (10-3, 3.52 ERA) to start the game.
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