Classic Rewind: Big Papi's clutch slam

June 8th, 2021

David Ortiz's clutch reputation was already in the pantheon thanks to his heroics in 2004, but it got one heck of a boost after he knocked a game-tying grand slam off Tigers reliever Joaquin Benoit with the Red Sox four outs away from falling into an 0-2 hole in the 2013 American League Championship Series.

Sox fans can probably recall Ortiz's slam with their eyes closed: The anticipation as Papi stepped up to the plate, the swing, Torii Hunter's head-over-heels tumble into the bullpen and Boston police officer Steve Horgan raising his arms in jubilation.

The Red Sox had to string a rally together to get Ortiz to the plate, of course. Trailing 5-1 to begin the bottom of the eighth, Will Middlebrooks got it rolling with a one-out double, followed by a Jacoby Ellsbury walk and a Dustin Pedroia two-out single. Tigers manager Jim Leyland was forced to bring in his closer Benoit, who couldn't even sneak one pitch past the big bat of Ortiz. You can watch the entire rally unfold in our "Epic Innings" clip below.

Of course, diehard fans can tell you that Game 2 of the 2013 ALCS had way more than just the Red Sox's eighth-inning rally. Tigers ace Max Scherzer took a no-hitter into the sixth and struck out 13, continuing Detroit's dominant pitching from Game 1. Miguel Cabrera homered over the Green Monster. Then, after Big Papi's slam, Boston closer Koji Uehara still had to keep the Tigers at bay with a perfect top of the ninth, setting the stage for Jarrod Saltalamacchia's walk-off single.

If you want to re-live every big moment from one of the most dramatic postseason comebacks in recent memory, MLB.com has you covered. Check out the classic condensed game below.