By: Tyler Ward
The Red Sox finally have a Home Run Derby winner..and that is David Ortiz. Ortiz becomes the first Red Sox player to win the event since it began in 1985. He reached the semi-finals in 2005 and 2006, but hadn't been back since his 2006 appearance.
Playing against Florida's Hanley Ramirez in the final round, Ortiz belted 11 home runs to secure the win. He hit a total of 21 in the last two rounds, fending off Ramirez for his derby win in three previous attempts. Ortiz will also play in his sixth All-Star game on Tuesday.
Prior to the event, Ortiz received an abundance of boos from the Anaheim crowd, as they remembered recent postseason clashes against Ortiz and the Red Sox. Ortiz hadn't even hit a home run in Anaheim since the 2007 AL Divisional Series.
After struggling at the start of the season, Ortiz has gone on a hitting frenzy and hit 17 home runs since the end of April. While watching Ortiz hit those home runs, it looked like that he had finally gotten his vintage swing back. A few years ago, he was a machine, hitting home run after home run. But, last year, his stats decreased heavily and he was even subject to trade talks. However, he said after the win that he wanted to sign a contract extension with Boston, hoping he'll finish his career in a Red Sox uniform.
''I've been dealing with so many things the past few years. Coming back here (to another All-Star game), I want to thank the players for giving me the opportunity to be here," Ortiz said. "This is a job that we have, but it's called a game. That's what I try to do during the season - have fun with my teammates and make sure everything goes the right way.'' New York bench coach pitched to Ortiz, which came as quite a surprise because frankly, it's Boston and New York, plain and simple. Pena wasn't even set to be Ortiz' pitcher, as he asked Pena during batting practice if he would throw to him.
He didn't claim that it was his swing that won the derby, but it was something else. An exhausted Ortiz said after the event, "This is my fourth time, so I just kind of used the experience. I wanted to come here and make sure the fans enjoy what we do.'' Ortiz also dedicated his performance to the recently deceased Jose Lima. He and Ortiz were good friends and talked all the time, but paramedics found Lima dead in his California home, after he had died of cardiac arrest.
Hanley Ramirez, who many expected to be eliminated in the first round, surprisingly made it to the final round against Ortiz. They both are also very good friends and Ortiz even said that Ramirez is "like a son to me." Ortiz said in an interview, "Of course, I wish Hanley would be playing on our team, like he was supposed to be, but there are things we can't control. The move that the Red Sox made was good for both sides.''
