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Ortiz homers twice as Red Sox rally to beat Astros

Aug 17, 2014 - 4:39 AM Boston, MA (SportsNetwork.com) - David Ortiz homered twice and tied a career high by driving in six runs as Boston rallied to take down Houston, 10-7, in the third portion of a four-game series from Fenway Park.

"Being well past pace of another 30 [homers]-100 [RBI], he's the main cog in our lineup. He's having one heck of a year again," said Red Sox manager John Farrell of his veteran slugger.

Daniel Nava collected three hits and drove in two, while Yoenis Cespedes and Jackie Bradley, Jr. added an RBI each for the Red Sox, who recovered from an early 5-1 deficit to win for the fifth time in their last six.

Dustin Pedroia and Mike Napoli both contributed two hits and two runs scored to Boston's potent offense.

Alex Wilson (1-0) tossed 2 1/3 innings of flawless relief for the victory.

Chris Carter homered and drove in two runs for the Astros, who have lost five of their last seven. Gregorio Petit also knocked in a pair, Dexter Fowler and Jonathan Singleton added an RBI apiece, Jason Castro had a solo homer and Marwin Gonzalez had two hits and crossed home twice in defeat.

Josh Fields (2-6) gave up the go-ahead run while recording two outs in the fifth inning.

A low liner just inside the Pesky Pole from Ortiz in the bottom of the fifth came two batters after Brock Holt singled and pulled Boston within 6-5. Singleton then botched a routine infield pop from Cespedes, allowing the speedy former Oakland Athletic to reach second, and Astros starter Brad Peacock was pulled.

"I think Jonathan Singleton just dropped the ball. And that's a very costly error," offered Astros manager Bo Porter.

Fields came on, and after Cespedes swiped third, Napoli walked and Nava brought home Cespedes with a single. Xander Bogaerts walked to load the bases, then Bradley's fly to center scored Napoli for a 7-6 lead.

The Sox loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth thanks to singles from Bradley and Pedroia sandwiched around a walk to Holt, which occurred after a sacrifice from Christian Vazquez. Ortiz followed with a two-run double to left-center which put the hosts ahead 9-6.

"It's an honor see him play, a special thing, and an even greater pleasure to share the locker room with him," Cespedes said of Ortiz.

Cespedes singled home Pedroia later in the inning to make it a four-run spread, and it was needed as Koji Uehara got into trouble in the ninth. He allowed a Castro homer with two down, Singleton added a hit and Jake Marisnick was plunked. However, Gonzalez grounded out to first to end the contest.

Houston picked up two runs in the first on a Fowler single and Singleton groundout, then increased its edge to 3-0 in the second as Carter's sac fly to right with the bases loaded plated Gonzalez.

Boston got one back in the home second when Napoli singled with one down and came home when Nava followed with a double.

In the third, Singleton reached on a fielder's choice, Gonzalez singled with two outs and Petit brought both home on a double down the left-field line for a 5-1 Astros edge.

A half-frame later, Pedroia singled and Ortiz homered to deep center to bring the Sox within 5-3. However, Carter cleared the top of the wall in left center with one away in the fourth to put the visitors up by three.

Game Notes

The first blast by Ortiz was his 400th as a member of the Red Sox and 458th career home run. After his second long ball, he remains third in franchise history, now 51 away from tying Carl Yastrzemski for second place ... Ortiz recorded his fourth multi-HR game this season and extended his franchise- record to 43 multi-HR efforts ... Boston starter Rubby De La Rosa was pulled after four innings, having surrendered six runs on nine hits with four walks ... Peacock ended up allowing six runs -- five earned -- on seven hits across 4 1/3 frames.