http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/11/sports/baseball/cleveland-indians-boston-red-sox-david-ortiz-alds-sweep.html 2016-10-11 05:37:59 Indians Sweep Aside David Ortiz’s Last Bit of Magic Ortiz, a prolific slugger, endured a quiet end to his career as Cleveland swept the Boston Red Sox to advance to the American League Championship Series. === BOSTON — With each successive stride After 14 years in Boston that helped to redefine the culture of a team and a city, Ortiz had conditioned the fans to expect the dramatic. They had come to believe that he could conjure more magic from his bat than anyone who had ever played for the They were desperate for him to prolong the season and his career for one more day, one more game, one more chance to wear the hero’s crown. But Ortiz’s magic finally ran out. The Coco Crisp, a former teammate of Ortiz’s in Boston, hit a two-run home run for the Indians in the sixth inning, and the Indians relief corps pitched around several tense situations to secure the win. After the final out, as the Indians celebrated on the field, the crowd chanted, “Thank you, Papi!” Several minutes later, many remained and chanted, “We’re not leaving,” in hope that Ortiz would emerge from the dugout again for one final goodbye. Finally, Ortiz appeared and waved to the crowd. Surrounded by photographers, he walked to the mound, removed his cap and waved in every direction around the stadium. There was no smile. He wore a solemn expression, nodded and patted his chest. Then he walked off the field, wiping a tear from his cheek. He had provided Boston’s fans with so many memorable moments and so many postseason victories throughout the years, but there would not be another. Ortiz, who said before the season began that he would retire when it ended, ended his career — barring an unexpected change of heart — by going 0 for 1 with two walks and an R.B.I. He had played in 17 elimination games for the Red Sox, and hit six homers and knocked in 22 runs in them, burnishing a reputation as a postseason player for the ages. Francona was in the Red Sox’ dugout a dozen years ago when the legend of Big Papi was born. As the Red Sox’ manager at the time, he witnessed many of Ortiz’s biggest moments. He had cheered Ortiz’s game-winning home run in the 10th inning of Game 3 of an A.L. division series against the Angels in 2004, his 12th-inning home run in Game 4 of the A.L.C.S. that same year against the Yankees, and his game-winning single in the 14th inning of Game 5 of that series. Ortiz had chances to add to that list on Monday. In the sixth inning, the Red Sox trailed by three runs and had two runners on base. Ortiz came to the plate with a chance to tie the game against Andrew Miller, the Indians’ top left-handed relief pitcher. With the fans chanting, “Papi! Papi!” Ortiz hit the ball sharply on a line to center. But it was caught, resulting in a sacrifice fly as Boston cut Cleveland’s lead to 4-2. In the eighth inning, Ortiz came up with the identical score and another runner on base. This time, the right-hander Cody Allen pitched Ortiz carefully and walked him on four pitches. Then Hanley Ramirez hit a run-scoring single, making it 4-3. The fans at Fenway erupted, and after Ortiz settled onto second base, he was removed for pinch-runner Marco Hernandez, most likely his final mention in a box score. As Ortiz walked off the field, he raised his arms aloft repeatedly, urging the crowd to make noise and rattle the opposition. His final moments as a player were spent as a cheerleader. Before the game on Monday, Francona was asked if, after having had Ortiz’s capabilities in critical situations, he would be reluctant to let his pitchers challenge the slugger. The problem, Francona said, is that runners who get on base via walks eventually tend to score. Worse, Francona noted, Ortiz was followed in the lineup by a resurgent Ramirez, who hit 30 home runs and knocked in 111 runs this season. “David’s had a phenomenal year,” Francona said. “I don’t care how old he is. But they’ve surrounded him with such potent bats that if you just determine that you’re going to walk somebody, they’re going to score.” When Ortiz came to the plate for the first time, he was leading off the bottom of the second inning. Josh Tomlin, the Indians’ starting pitcher, greeted him with caution and walked him on five pitches. So much for challenging Ortiz. Tomlin, who relies mostly on his fastball and cut fastball, threw only one to Ortiz in the at-bat and generally stayed away from him. The tactic worked. Ramirez followed Ortiz with a fly ball to center for the first out. Xander Bogaerts singled off the wall in left field, but Andrew Benintendi hit into an inning-ending double play. The Red Sox came close to preserving their season, and Ortiz’s career, in the ninth inning. With two outs, Jackie Bradley Jr. roped a single to right field, and Dustin Pedroia walked on a full-count pitch. Travis Shaw worked the count full, but his fly ball to right changed the scene from electric to funereal in an instant. All that was left were the chants for Big Papi and the memories.