Baseball notebook: Yankees fans skip usual Bronx cheer, give Big Papi heartfelt farewell
NEW YORK— Playing in the Bronx one last time, Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz was given a 30-second standing ovation at Yankee Stadium instead of the usual boos.
There were many fans in Red Sox colours in Thursday night’s crowd, which chanted his nickname “Pa-pi! Pa-pi!” Only a smattering of booing could be heard.
Ortiz struck out in the second inning against CC Sabathia, dropping to 0-for-10 in the three-game series and hitless in his last 14 at-bats against the Yankees. Ortiz walked in the fourth and was replaced by pinch runner Brock Holt, then received another ovation as he jogged to the Red Sox dugout. Ortiz pointed to the Yankees dugout in thanks as he headed to the third base side.
Hitting .315 with 37 homers and 124 RBIs, the 40-year-old designated hitter is having among the greatest final seasons in big league history.
During a pre-game ceremony, Ortiz was presented an oil painting of himself and a leather-bound book with handwritten letters from current and former Yankees. The Red Sox had honoured a pair of Yankees greats before their Fenway Park finales, Mariano Rivera in 2013 and Derek Jeter the following year.
“I know he’s caused a lot of heartache to us, but I’m sure the Red Sox fans would say that Jeter and Mo caused a lot of heartache, as well,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said earlier. “I know at times it becomes a bitter rivalry, but this guy has done a lot of special things in the game and he’s meant a ton to that organization.”
Minor-leaguer Montero gets drug ban:
Blue Jays minor-league first baseman Jesus Montero has been suspended for 50 games, MLB announced Thursday.
Montero, who hit .317, with 11 homers and 60 RBIs for Triple-A Buffalo this season, tested positive for the banned substance dimethylbutyla- mine, a stimulant outlawed in baseball’s drug prevention and treatment program.
Jays add to front office:
The Blue Jays announced they have hired Steve Sanders as director of amateur scouting to replace Brian Parker, who was dismissed earlier this season.
Sanders joins the Jays from the Red Sox, where he most recently held the position of assistant director of amateur scouting. The graduate of Northwestern University worked for the Dodgers in 2009 and 2010 before joining the Red Sox in 2011.
Director of analytics Joe Sheehan was named assistant GM, while pro scouting director Perry Minasian was named special assistant to GM Ross Atkins.
Tigers could extend wild-card race:
The Detroit Tigers could end up with a wacky travel schedule next week — if they’re able to keep their season going.
Thursday’s game between the Tigers and Cleveland Indians was postponed because of bad weather, a move that could force the teams to squeeze in a makeup game Monday if it needs to be played because of post-season implications. The wild card-contending Tigers and AL Central champion Indians played a rainshortened game Wednesday night, which Detroit won 6-3 in five innings. The series finale Thursday never began.
With the regular season scheduled to end Sunday — and little room for extra games before the post-season — the Tigers and Indians waited through a delay of four hours, 13 minutes before the game was finally called.