Ortiz jump-starts offense with homer No. 493

NEW YORK -- David Ortiz continued his push toward home run No. 500 on Friday night at Citi Field, rejuvenating his team's offense in the process.

The Red Sox had been shut out by Matt Harvey for six innings and were down 2-0 when Ortiz dug in to lead off the seventh. On the first pitch he saw from Mets reliever Logan Verrett, Ortiz pummeled a solo shot over the wall in center. It was the first strike back for the Red Sox in a 6-4, 10-inning victory over the Mets.

The homer was No. 493 for Ortiz, tying him with Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig and Fred McGriff for 27th on the all-time list.

"What impresses me about David is he's never seen the guy," said Red Sox interim manager Torey Lovullo. "First-pitch fastball and he hits it over the left-center field wall for a home run. Nothing he does surprises me anymore, that's for darn sure. It got us going. It got us pushed in the right direction and it gave us a kick-start."

Ortiz, who started at first base, had to leave the game in the bottom of the eighth with tightness in his left heel. The injury isn't believed to be serious.