ST. PETERSBURG -- In the final season of one of the great careers in the history of the Red Sox, David Ortiz has shown that age is but a number. He continued to do so on Wednesday night.
Ortiz rocked the first pitch he saw from Matt Andriese in the first inning of Wednesday's 4-3, 11-inning loss to the Rays for a home run to right-center field, his 30th of the season. And with Dustin Pedroia on second base, he also recorded his 100th RBI of the year to give Boston a 2-0 lead. Ortiz became the oldest player to reach 30 home runs in a season at 40 years, nine months and six days old.
Ortiz, who will retire after this year, is also the only player to record 30 homers and 100 RBIs in each of the past four seasons.
"It's good. We need that," Ortiz said of his accomplishment. "We need offense. We've had a good offense this year, and that's what's keeping us alive. Hopefully it continues."
Ortiz has 10 100-RBI seasons with Boston, passing Hall of Famer Ted Williams for the most in franchise history. He is one of five players with at least 10 30-homer, 100-RBI seasons with the same team, joining Babe Ruth (12), Albert Pujols (10), Hank Aaron (10) and Lou Gehrig (10). He'll also be the first player to achieve the 30-home run, 100-RBI feat in his final season.
• Justice: Pujols, Papi HRs signify greatness
Ortiz is also one home run shy of tying Jimmie Foxx for 18th on baseball's all-time home run list (534).
Last season, Ortiz hit his 499th and 500th career home runs in the same game at Tropicana Field.