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Red Sox to retire Ortiz’s number 34; Blue Jays beat Red Sox 2-1

BOSTON  — Aaron Sanchez took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and Troy Tulowitzki singled to break an eighth-inning tie, helping the Toronto Blue Jays clinch...
Toronto Blue Jays v Boston Red Sox
Red Sox to retire Ortiz’s number 34; Blue Jays beat Red Sox 2-1

BOSTON  — Aaron Sanchez took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and Troy Tulowitzki singled to break an eighth-inning tie, helping the Toronto Blue Jays clinch the AL’s top wild-card berth Sunday with a 2-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox in David Ortiz’s final regular season game.

The Red Sox sent David Ortiz off before his final regular-season game with a promise that he will return.

This week, in the playoffs, when he goes for his fourth World Series title.

And next year, when they hang his No. 34 from the Fenway facade among the team’s retired numbers.

During a pregame ceremony Sunday attended by Red Sox greats like Carl Yastrzemski and teammates fromOrtiz’s three championship teams, the ballclub honored their soon-to-retire slugger by draping a Dominican flag over the Green Monster and bringing out his father — Big Papi’s real Papi — to stand next to him in the middle of the diamond.

Ortiz broke into tears when he mentioned his late mother before gathering himself together to thank his teammates and members of the organization from owner John Henry to clubhouse attendant Pookie Jackson. He also thanked the fans — dropping to one knee and tipping his cap to the crowd — along with the media, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred and Dominican Republic President Danilo Medina, who were both in attendance.

Toronto clinched a spot in the postseason when Detroit lost to Atlanta 1-0 earlier Sunday evening. With their win in Boston, the Blue Jays earned the right to host the Baltimore Orioles in a one-game playoff on Tuesday.

The Red Sox, who lost five of their last six games, will start their AL Division Series against the Indians on Thursday in Cleveland.

Sanchez (15-2) limited Boston to a run and two hits over seven innings. Roberto Osuna got three outs for his 36th save.

Brad Ziegler (2-4) allowed Tulowitzki’s single.

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