MLB teams
Scott Lauber, ESPN Staff Writer 8y

David Ortiz returns to lineup, hits homer in Red Sox win

MLB, Boston Red Sox

BALTIMORE -- Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz apparently found a unique elixir for his sore left foot: a trip to Camden Yards.

Ortiz on Monday hit his seventh home run in his past 10 games in Baltimore, returning to the lineup for a Memorial Day matinee against the Baltimore Orioles after sitting out Sunday's game in Toronto.

The solo home run, which led off the eighth inning Monday, was his 14th of this season and gave him a major league-best 47 RBIs. The Red Sox opened the four-game series between the top two teams in the American League East with a 7-2 victory.

Manager John Farrell used Ortiz's return to give first baseman Hanley Ramirez a rare day off against Orioles right-hander Tyler Wilson. Travis Shaw started at first base, while utility infielder Marco Hernandez played third.

In the fifth inning Saturday in Toronto, Ortiz struck out on a pitch that hit him on the top of the left foot. X-rays were negative, and he remained in the game to hit a ninth-inning solo homer that gave the Red Sox a fleeting lead in a 10-9 loss.

But the pain in Ortiz's foot intensified Saturday night, so much so that he said he "needed help to get up" from dinner at a restaurant. Ortiz was a late scratch Sunday and wasn't used despite numerous pinch-hitting opportunities in an 11-inning, 5-3 victory over the Blue Jays.

According to Farrell, Ortiz fouled a pitch off the same spot on his left foot last week. The incident Saturday exacerbated the injury.

Ortiz is off to the best start of his career in what's expected to be his final season. Entering play Monday, the 40-year-old led the majors with a 1.140 OPS and ranked third in the AL in batting average (.339). He is tied for second in the AL with his 14 home runs.

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