BOSTON — David Ortiz became one of the most celebrated players in Red Sox history during his storied 14-year run in Boston.
On the night he returned to Fenway to have his No. 34 take its place among the franchise’s other legends, his former teammates did their part to make sure it was a memorable one.
Hanley Ramirez and Sandy Leon hit two-run homers and the Boston Red Sox beat the Los Angeles Angels 9-4 on Friday to cap a night in which Ortiz’s number became the latest retired at Fenway Park.
It was the 250th career home run for Ramirez, a good friend of Ortiz who was also born in the Dominican Republic. Leon finished with three hits and four RBIs.
Ramirez said he played with Ortiz on his mind.
“He’s my mentor, my big brother. He’s everything,” Ramirez said. “Today when I saw him on the field crying, it made me cry.”
He said his home run was in Big Papi’s honor.
“Definitely, definitely, definitely,” he said. “I was going to do his thing (pointing his hands in the air) but I forgot.”
The homers helped provide a nice cushion for Rick Porcello (4-9), who gave up four runs and struck out eight in 6⅓ innings to earn the victory. It was the 13th straight start Porcello has gone at least six innings.
“It was vintage Porcello,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “A couple of pitches that cut his night short, but he was crisp throughout.”
This could serve as a needed confidence boost for Porcello, who had been 0-4 with a 7.92 ERA in his previous five starts, allowing 47 hits and 27 earned runs.
He had command of his pitches early, holding the Angels scoreless until the fourth, when a catching error by Leon at home allowed Albert Pujols to cross the plate.
Porcello said he isn’t sure if he has completely turned a corner yet after his slow start, but he has felt better in his recent starts.
“Today was a step in the right direction,” he said.
Alex Meyer (3-4) allowed five runs and five hits in 3⅓ innings.
Los Angeles scored three runs in the seventh, but cooled off after Porcello left.
Boston got out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, scoring on an RBI double by Xander Bogaerts and then getting two more runs off wild pitches by Meyer.
Ramirez gave Porcello a 5-1 lead in the fourth with his two-run shot to right field.
TRAINER’S ROOM — Red Sox: INF Josh Rutledge was a pregame scratch with left hip soreness. Dustin Pedroia, who was only expected to play on an emergency basis, returned to the lineup a day earlier than expected after missing three straight games with a bruised back.
SLOW START — Meyer said he felt like the back-to-back walks he surrendered to the Red Sox first two hitters set a tone for his night.
“It’s unacceptable,” he said. “You can’t go out there and put two guys on basically before the game starts.”
Manager Mike Scioscia said he thinks he was too amped up, but Meyer disagreed.
“I didn’t feel like my heart was ever racing,” he said.
But he said he must avoid get behind the leadoff hitter 3-0, like he did against Mookie Betts Friday.
“It’s really not acceptable you just have to be better than that,” he said.
HONORING PAPI — Ortiz wiped away tears from his eyes as the Fenway crowd serenaded him with chants of “Papi! Papi! Papi! during the pregame ceremony to retire his No. 34.
Pedroia addressed the Fenway crowd on behalf of Ortiz’s former teammates during the ceremony and said his impact stretched beyond their experiences together on the baseball field.
“You’re not a friend, you’re not a teammate, you’re our family,” Pedroia said.
UP NEXT — Angels: RHP JC Ramirez will be making his 14th start of the season and seventh on the road in 2017. He made four relief appearances last season against Boston. He’s tossed 2⅓ scoreless innings in two career games at Fenway.
Red Sox: LHP David Price held the Angels to eight scoreless innings the last time he faced them in late July last season. He is 5-5 with a 3.26 ERA over 13 career starts against Los Angeles.
PERALTA SIGNS — The Red Sox have agreed to a minor league contract with infielder Jhonny Peralta, 10 days after he was released by the St. Louis Cardinals.
Boston president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Friday that Peralta will play third base for Triple-Pawtucket and is expected to report on Monday.
The Red Sox were seeking to add depth while Pablo Sandoval is dealing with an inner ear infection that sent him to the disabled list this week.
Peralta, 35, is a three-time All-Star. He hit .204 in 21 games with the Cardinals this season and is guaranteed $10 million as part of a $53 million, four-year contract he agreed to before the 2014 season.
FISTER CLAIMED — The Red Sox have claimed right hander Doug Fister off waivers in a move to provide depth to a rotation that has struggled with injuries.
Dombrowski announced the move Friday. Farrell said Fister is slated to make his first start in Sunday’s series finale against the Los Angeles Angels. Boston is hoping he can provide help with starters Steven Wright out for the season after left knee surgery and Eduardo Rodriguez rehabilitating a right knee injury.
Fister, 33, was released from his minor league contract with the Angels at his request on Thursday. He was pitching with their Triple-A affiliate in Salt Lake City, but had a clause in his deal to opt out if he wasn’t added to the major league roster by June 21.
He spent the 2016 season with the Astros, going 12-13 with a 4.64 ERA.