David Ortiz Hits 20th HR In Red Sox’ 11-6 Home Win Over Rangers

David Ortiz hit his 20th home run to lead the Boston Red Sox to an 11-6 home victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night.

David Ortiz Hits 20th HR In Red Sox’ 11-6 Home Win Over Rangers

The Red Sox, who now lead their series against the Rangers at Fenway Park 2-1, broke out to an 11-1 lead after just four innings.

“We need it,” said Ortiz. “This is a time of the season when you start looking at the scoreboard, the standings. Everything matters from now on.”

Boston right-hander Steven Wright went six-plus innings to earn his 10th win one day after being named to the American League All-Star team. For the second time in two starts, Wright didn’t allow an earned run over the first five innings. He gave up two in the sixth and three in the seventh to make it a five-run game.

Rangers lefty Martin Perez struggled, getting pounded for nine hits and 11 runs (seven earned) over four innings. Texas’ infield defense didn’t help Perez much, committing three errors in a five-run second inning.

“I have never seen that ballclub make that many errors,” said Ortiz. “They’ve got a great defense. It’s one of those days where things didn’t work out. And you know how good-hitting ballclubs are. When they make a mistake, we make you pay.”

The 40-year-old Dominican, nicknamed “Big Papi,” opened scoring for Boston with a two-run homer to right-center field off Perez to give the Red Sox a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

As he crossed home plate, Ortiz kissed his own hands and pointed to the sky as he looked up, a gesture he has often repeated. Just one day earlier, the veteran designated hitter had seemed frustrated with his hitting. In an at-bat during the ninth inning of the Red Sox’ 7-2 loss to the Rangers on Tuesday, Ortiz broke his bat over his knee en route to first base.

However, he seemed to find his groove again on Wednesday.

“Last night, I felt like I was kind of using my bottom hand too much, but it happens,” said Ortiz. “That’s part of the game. That’s why the season is so long. I like making adjustments real quick, real fast.”

Ortiz became the 15th player 40 or older to hit 20 home runs in a season.

Mookie Betts drove an RBI double off the high left-field wall, dubbed the “Green Monster,” to extend Boston’s lead to 5-1 in the second inning. Ryan Hanigan then scored on a fielding error by shortstop Elvis Andrus, pushing the Red Sox’ lead to 6-1 in the second. That same inning, the Rangers defense committed two other crucial errors. Second baseman Rougned Odor and third baseman Adrian Beltre, a four-time Gold Glove Award winner, also bobbled grounders. As a team, Texas now has 46 errors on the season.

“That second inning is something we haven’t seen since last year,” said Rangers manager Jeff Banister. “The reality is, we’re probably not going to see it again. We’ve got some outstanding defenders. They handle the baseball very well.”

Right-hander Jose Leclerc, the Rangers’ No. 23 prospect, entered for his Major League debut in the fifth inning with Texas trailing by 10 runs. Instead of adding to the deficit, the 22-year-old Dominican pitched like a natural and earned praise from Banister. Leclerc allowed just one hit and two walks while striking out four in 2 2/3 innings against the Majors’ top offense. Of the 51 pitches Leclerc threw, 31 were strikes.

After one of the worst outings of his career on Tuesday night in a non-save situation, right-handed Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel told manager John Farrell he wanted to pitch on Wednesday, regardless of the score. Kimbrel came on with a five-run lead and worked around two walks while also striking out two.

Bryce Bentz (2-for-4, 3 RBIs) hit a bloop single to right field, bringing home two runs and extending the Red Sox’ lead to 11-1 in the fourth. Prince Fielder ripped a two-run homer in the sixth, one inning before Ian Desmond lined a two-run triple off the center-field wall to cut the Rangers’ deficit to 11-5 in the top of the seventh.

The Rangers (53-33, 1st in AL West) next return home for the opener of a four-game series against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night. Right-hander Chi Chi Gonzalez will take the mound for Texas.

Following an off-day on Thursday, the Red Sox (46-38, 3rd in AL East) will open a three-game home series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night. Right-hander Sean O’Sullivan, coming off a win, will make the start.

BOSTON, MA – JULY 06: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning during the game against the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park on July 6, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)