SAN FRANCISCO -- David Ortiz was held out of the starting lineup in the Red Sox's 5-3 win against the Giants on Tuesday night at AT&T Park to rest, but the slugger came off the bench in the seventh inning and picked up an RBI on a groundout to tie the game at 3.
"He's been on the bases a lot," manager John Farrell said prior to the game starting. "He tags up from second, goes first-to-third, runs hard. It's best served for him to be a pinch-hitter here."
At age 40, Ortiz is enjoying one of his finest seasons. He leads the Majors with 54 RBIs, 26 doubles, 43 extra-base hits and is fourth with a .340 batting average. He entered Tuesday's game on a 13-game hitting streak.
"I don't want to risk losing him," Farrell said. "There's maintenance to consider with his legs and heels. I don't think you could have planned for the amount of baserunning he's done this year. Hopefully he will have an opportunity late in the game to have an impact."
Former Red Sox teammates Javier Lopez and Jake Peavy joined Hall of Famer Willie McCovey in a brief pregame ceremony celebrating Ortiz's career.

"I appreciate the fact they take the time to do things like that," said Ortiz.
McCovey helped honor Ortiz, who was presented with a bell from a cable car, since both are considered two of the most feared left-handed hitters to have played the game.
Ortiz, who has 519 homers, was honored to meet McCovey, who went deep 521 times in his career.
"That was great," said Ortiz. "He's legendary."