Ortiz 3-Run Blast Leads Red Sox In Shutout Over Giants, 4-0
BOSTON (AP) -- The Boston Red Sox beat the San Francisco Giants 4-0 Tuesday and Jake Peavy showed he hasn't lost his sense of humor since his year with the Boston Red Sox.
Peavy, who won a World Series with the Red Sox three years ago, returned to Fenway Park with six strong innings for the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night.
Brock Holt hit a solo homer off Peavy in the third, then David Ortiz hit a three-run shot in the fourth. It was Ortiz's first homer since the All-Star break of the final season for the retiring slugger.
"He's a year too late if you ask me in retiring," Peavy joked about his former teammate. "I'd love to play that game without him tonight."
Peavy still pitched well, but San Francisco continued to struggle at the plate and remained winless since the All-Star break with its fourth straight loss. The Giants had just five hits and only three runners advanced beyond first base.
"We just need somebody to get a big hit and inject some life into this offense," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "We look flat right now. You look flat when you don't hit or drive in a run and they start pressing a little bit and we've got to get on track here soon."
Rick Porcello (12-2) scattered four hits over 6 1-3 innings and the Red Sox won for the seventh time in eight games despite a strong start by Peavy.
Porcello settled down after allowing singles to the first two batters he faced and improved to 9-0 at home this season.
Porcello struck out three and walked two while improving to 9-0 at home. Porcello ended up striking out the side in the first and the Giants had two hits over the next five innings. Porcello left after walking Jarrett Parker with one out in the seventh. Reliever Robbie Ross got a quick double play to end the threat.
Peavy (5-8), a key member of Boston's 2013 World Series champions, struck out six over six innings and held his former teammates to three hits, but two left the park.
Holt's solo homer to center in the third was Boston's first hit and the Red Sox tacked on three more runs when Peavy faced Ortiz in the fourth.
Dustin Pedroia led off with a walk and Xander Bogaerts followed with a single, setting up Ortiz's shot to right that cleared the bullpen and several rows of seats before finally landing.
It was the 23rd homer of the season for Ortiz and the 526th of his career. Ortiz also didn't seem to relish hitting it off Peavy.
"Peavy's always going to be remembered here and welcomed to Boston," Ortiz said. "Great teammate and great personality. I really enjoyed being his teammate."
The Giants were in Boston for the first time since the Red Sox swept a three-game interleague series in 2007.
