BOSTON — Four outs away from being suffocated by the powerful Tiger arms, the Red Sox were rescued by David Ortiz, whose reputation as an October star added another chapter.
Trailing by four runs with two outs in the eighth inning of Game 2 in the ALCS and the bases loaded, the Red Sox watched Ortiz hit Joaquin Benoit’s first pitch toward the home bullpen in right field.
As the laser approached the low wall so, too, did right fielder Torii Hunter. His stab at catching the ball on the run failed and he went headfirst over the fence into the pen as the crowd celebrated Boston tying the score with one swing of Ortiz’ bat.
An inning later, the Red Sox used a throwing error by shortstop and former teammate Jose Iglesias, a dropped foul pop by Prince Fielder, a wild pitch by Rick Porcello and Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s ground single to score a run that lifted them to a pulsating 6-5 victory Sunday night in front of 38,029 at Fenway Park.
“Giving up really isn’t an option with this team,’’ said Jonny Gomes, whose grounder in the hole was gloved by Iglesias, whose throw to first could not be handled by Fielder.
The victory evens the best-of-seven series at 1-1 going into Game 3 Tuesday afternoon at Detroit’s Comerica Park, where Justin Verlander opposes John Lackey.
Until Ortiz took a down and away change-up over the wall, the Red Sox were dominated by a Tigers starter for the second straight game, and it appeared the Red Sox would be in a 2-0 ditch.
“If we are going into Detroit down two the way they have pitched against us, that challenge becomes even greater,’’ Boston manager John Farrell said. “But I think everybody looked upon this series was going to be well played, hard fought and it’s not disappointing at this point.’’
Ortiz’ third homer of this postseason and 15th of his career sent the crowd into a wild celebration and cleared the hitting funk the Red Sox were in for 16 innings, in which they had scored two runs.
“We needed it, we needed to start getting some momentum going,’’ Ortiz said. “We are going to Detroit 1-1, instead of 2-0. I am sure in the game Tuesday against Verlander you will see guys having better at-bats.’’
While Ortiz’ slam tied the score, Saltalamacchia’s grounder through a drawn-in infield won it.
“The approach changes,’’ the switch-hitter said of Gomes being on third with no one out thanks to the wild pitch. “At first I was trying to get him over. Once the [wild pitch] happened my approached changed and I was trying to hit it up the middle.’’
After spilling into the bullpen attempting to catch Ortiz’ laser in the eighth, Hunter stayed on the ground for several minutes but got to his feet and remained in the game.
“He is fine. He hit it pretty good, but he will be all right,’’ Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. “He is bruised up a little bit, but he will be fine.’’
Asked why he brought the right-handed Benoit to face the lefty-swinging Ortiz instead of lefty Phil Coke, Leyland didn’t hesitate.
“Coke hadn’t pitched a big game for quite a while,’’ Leyland said of the former Yankee who was left off the ALDS roster because of an elbow problem. “Benoit is our guy against the lefties and we felt he gave us the best chance to get that out.’’
With Max Scherzer done after seven innings in which he gave up a run, two hits and fanned a season-high 13, Jose Veras and Al Alburquerque combined to load the bases for Ortiz by giving up two hits and a walk.
Until the eighth, Tiger pitchers had dominated the series.
Leading, 1-0, going into the sixth the Tigers scored four runs and chased Boston starter Clay Buchholz.
Miguel Cabrera hit a change-up on the inner half into the first row of seats on top of the Green Monster with one out. Fielder and Victor Martinez followed with back-to-back doubles for another run and Alex Avila pushed the lead to 5-0 with a two-run homer to right.