David Ortiz joins the 500-home run club

Ortiz also became the fourth player to hit homer No. 500 with the Red Sox, joining legends Ted Williams, Jimmie Foxx and Manny Ramirez. The 26-year-old has gone six innings or more just once in five starts since returning from the disabled list, but issued only six walks during that span. Ortiz is 5-for-10 with a homer versus Smyly, who permitted one run over six innings while suffering a loss at Boston on May 5. “My first home run, I don’t know if Moore was trying to go off the plate or outside but it was straight”.

“In the history of the game, you don’t see that many players getting to the 500 club, so I’m going to take a lot of pride on that”, Ortiz said.

Rich Hill is set to take the mound for the Boston Red Sox.

The team wouldn’t have to wait long in 2004. Betts led off with a towering shot to left field for his 15th home run, and Dustin Pedroia lined his 10th a few moments later into the seats in left-center to give the Red Sox a 5-0 lead.

Had the Sox been in contention, it’s possible that Blake Swihart would have been sent back down to the minors – or that he would have gotten something less than an everyday role – when Ryan Hanigan returned from the DL.

Big Papi has 50 multihomer games in a 19-year career.

Sure enough, you’d be right.

The Sox signed Hill in August after he pitched 11 scoreless innings in two starts for the Ducks, including one in which he struck out a franchise-record-tying 14 batters. It is the ninth time in his big league career he has hit 30 or more home runs in a season.

The Rays, who didn’t do much early against Boston starter Rick Porcello, finally reached him for a two-run homer by leadoff hitter John Jaso, his third this season.

In San Francisco, Madison Bumgarner lost his bid for a flawless game on a single with two outs in the eighth inning, the lone blemish for the San Francisco Giants ace.

Amid a sizzling offensive stretch, David Ortiz has been able to enjoy another milestone with the Boston Red Sox.

This home run milestone adds to David Ortiz’s extensive résumé, which includes three World Series titles. For when he hit what would prove to be the game-winning grand slam, inspiring a bullpen cop to raise his arms in triumph over Torii Hunter’s dangling feet, well, it really didn’t feel like the Red Sox would ever lose another game.

SB Nation presents: Can A-Rod become the all-time home run king? It was his first game in the majors since last September 23 after pitching this season for independent league Long Island and in Triple-A.

The only other pitchers in history to start their careers 16-0 at home were Johnny Allen (1932-33) and LaMarr Hoyt (1980-82).