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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Red Sox legend David Ortiz had some words of advice and encouragement for the team ahead of Game 1 of the ALCS against the Houston Astros on Friday night.
"Playing in October is something that's more complicated than what people think it is, a lot of pressure, people always expect you to come through," he said. Big Papi spoke to WBZ NewsRadio on Thursday, and said the team can't lose focus ahead of the series. Under that kind of pressure, he said any batter could hit a slump.
"Teamwork. Everybody needs to have each other's back," he said. Ortiz said he was talking to people on the team that were a little banged up at this point in the season, like third baseman Rafael Devers, telling him not to over-extend himself.
Seeing the Red Sox in the ALCS has made Ortiz reminisce about his own playoff trips with the team. He was on the Sox for three successful World Series runs in 2004, 2007, and 2013. He expressed confidence in Red Sox ace pitcher Chris Sale despite a rocky showing in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays.
First pitch in Houston for Game 1 is at 8:07 PM.
Big Papi spoke to WBZ's Drew Moholland (@DrewWBZ):
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