Red Sox’ season, the career of David Ortiz now over after being swept by Indians

The October magic just wasn’t there for the Red Sox this postseason as the Sox were swept, 3-0, by the Cleveland Indians in the ALDS. Cleveland clinched the series Monday night at Fenway Park, edging the Sox, 4-3.

Not only is a Red Sox season that had championship dreams over, but so too is the remarkable career of David Ortiz. Ortiz’s final moments in a Red Sox uniform came in the eighth inning of Game 3 Monday when he was pinch run for by Marco Hernandez. Ortiz had done his part in trying to get the Sox out of a 4-2 eighth inning deficit as he reached base via a walk.

Hanley Ramirez’s single in the eighth drove in Mookie Betts, getting Ortiz (and eventually Hernandez) in scoring position at second, but with two outs Xander Bogaerts lined out to second base – killing the Boston rally. The Sox also made things interesting in the ninth inning with two outs as Jackie Bradley Jr. singled to right and Dustin Pedroia walked. Travis Shaw, though, was unable to come through with the season on the line as he flied out to right.

The Red Sox trailed the Indians from the fourth inning on and trailed 4-1 in the top of the sixth when former outfielder Coco Crips came back to haunt Boston with a two-run homer off of Drew Pomeranz.

It was a painful way for the Red Sox to end a strong 2016 campaign. Coming off of consecutive last place finishes in the AL East, the Sox turned things around and won the division this year thanks to a sterling 93-69 record.

“Given where this team finished last year, there’s a lot for them to be proud of,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “We’re AL East champions – and I know that doesn’t mean much right now – but we took a big step this season.”

Ortiz – fighting through tears – came out of the Fenway dugout about 20 minutes after the conclusion of the game, and tipped his cap to thousands of Red Sox fans who stuck around hoping to catch one more glimpse of No. 34.

“They were calling my name out there. I definitely always want to show love to the fans,” Ortiz said after the curtain-call. “I started thinking … I had my moment as I started walking to the mound. I started looking around … and that moment that hits you where you know you’re not going to be able to be performing in the best baseball city in the world, in front of the best fans worldwide … It’s something that hit me a little bit. I’m not going to lie to you.”