Big Papi brings relief to Fenway

BOSTON -- One swing by Big Papi brought relief to many at Fenway Park.

Slumping David Ortiz hit a grand slam, the eighth of his career, and went 2-for-4 with five RBIs to lead the Red Sox to an 11-3 victory over the Texas Rangers on Friday night.

"I'm sure he's going to feel good about it," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "Obviously we do."

Daisuke Matsuzaka stayed unbeaten and Dustin Pedroia hit his first homer, a two-run shot that capped Boston's five-run fourth inning.

The Red Sox won for the sixth time in seven games.

Ortiz entered the game hitting just .111, the lowest of any regular in the majors. His slam was his seventh with the Red Sox, and seventh at Fenway -- tying a record held by Ted Williams and Jim Rice.

Ortiz's slam -- his first hit at Fenway this season -- erased Boston's 1-0 deficit against starter Luis Mendoza (0-1) in the third after Jed Lowrie doubled and Jacoby Ellsbury and Pedroia walked. It was his second homer of the season.

"It's just a matter of time," Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek said. "It was a big lift for him."

The third started easily for Mendoza, who retired the first eight batters of the game. Varitek popped weakly to third and Sean Casey lined to short. Lowrie then doubled into the left-field corner.

Following the walks, Ortiz -- hitting just .109 when he came up -- walked slowly to the plate. The crowd, seemingly trying to help get the slugger on track, gave him a standing ovation. On the first pitch, he lofted a fly ball into the Green Monster seats' first row, and was serenaded with chants of "Papi, Papi" when he reached the dugout.

"He creates life in a crowd regardless of whether he has a hit or not," Varitek said. "He's Big Papi for a reason."

When Ortiz reached the dugout, his teammates gave him the "silent treatment" before mobbing him.

"Even though the big boy is struggling, he's still dangerous," Texas manager Ron Washington said.

Matsuzaka (4-0) gave up three runs and five hits with two walks and four strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. He labored through the first three, throwing 62 pitches, but held the Rangers to one run and two hits.