Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz hit the 474th home run of his career during Saturday’s 5-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, moving past Carlos Delgado for sole possession of 31st place on MLB‘s all-time home runs list, per MLB Milestones.
The Red Sox fought back from an early 4-0 deficit Saturday afternoon, eventually tying the game on Ortiz’s emphatic blast to deep right field off of Blue Jays pitcher R.A. Dickey to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning.
The run was Boston’s last of the game, as both bullpens dueled to a stalemate in the late innings until Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin provided the winning run on an 11th-inning solo homer off of Red Sox reliever Matt Barnes.
Although the Red Sox are stuck in a five-game losing streak, the 39-year-old Ortiz may finally be breaking out of his season-long slump with four hits, two home runs, four RBI, four runs and two walks over the last three games.
It shouldn’t take long for him to move higher up the all-time home runs list, as Ortiz’s next homer will move him into a tie with Hall of Famers Stan Musial and Willie Stargell for 29th place at 475.
After that, Ortiz will need 18 more homers to tie Lou Gehrig and Fred McGriff in 27th place at 493.
Assuming he overcomes a terrible start—at least to some extent—and ultimately decides to play another season, Ortiz should eventually become the 27th member of the 500-home run club.
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