MLB Scores & Recap - Red Sox vs. Braves; David Ortiz Saves Boston in Final Inning Hit

David Ortiz was the hero of the day after hitting a home run to help the Boston Red Sox win over the Oakland Athletics with a final score of 7-6. The Red Sox are now 6 1/2 games shy of first placer Toronto in AL East.

In the 10th inning, Ortiz hit a leadoff home run, saving his team from getting swept in four games. Before his 17th career home run, Ortiz was the only starter of the Boston Red Sox with no hits. He finally connected a 1-2 pitch from Fernando Abad. The ball went over the wall in left-center.

John Farrell, manager of the Red Sox commented on Ortiz's homer, "He does have the knack for the moment. More than anything he stays at rest or at peace mentally in those key spots and doesn't miss his pitch when he gets it."

In a report by Boston.com, Ortiz said, "I like to go out there and make things happen. We've had a good game, had a good series and then we go back to struggles. So hopefully everything changes at some point."

Ortiz was 3 for 13 in the series before the homer. Ortiz was up against Oakland left-handed pitcher Fernando Abad. In the first four pitches, Ortiz fouled. When he hit the home run, the ball went close to the 388-foot marker. Ortiz said, "You can't get five hits with one at-bat. Whatever happened in have to go up there with a fresh mind and try to do something different." Before stepping up to the plate, Ortiz was previously struck out by Abad.

Koji Uehara, of the Red Sox, said, "I'm getting hit on day games. I think it's because I'm old. I'm not woken up." Boston had the advantage by leading 6-1. However, they easily gave it away by allowing the Oakland Athletics to score three runs in the eighth inning and two home runs in the ninth inning. Jon Lester of the Red Sox also let two earned runs and four hits. He was able to strike out four and walk two.

Other players who also scored home runs for the Boston Red Sox include David Ross and Mike Napoli. Jonny Gomes also hit a two-run single.

According to The Boston Globe, Xander Bogaerts said, "Emotionally, it would have been bad for everybody. You can't lose a game like that, a game we needed. Oh, man, I don't even want to talk about it." He talked about Ortiz's homer, "That's why we have him. Thank God."