Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz came into the Red Sox’s game versus the Tampa Bay Rays today two home runs away from 500 career home runs at 498. It was rumored that Ortiz wouldn’t be playing today versus the left handed Rays pitcher Matt Moore, due to the Red Sox wanting Ortiz to get some rest.

Ortiz hits just .225 against left handed pitchers with only 6 home runs, so it makes sense that he wouldn’t play today. The Red Sox decided to play him anyway, and right off the bat in the 1st inning, he moved within one of 500.

.@DavidOrtiz’s chase is almost over. http://t.co/wX6Pvna2SJ pic.twitter.com/4KOMZ2P8zn

— MLB GIFS (@MLBGIFs) September 12, 2015

Then, in the 5th inning, history:

Ortiz became the 27th member of the 500 home run club with this blast, and in by doing so he became the 4th Red Sox player to hit their 500th career home run with the Red Sox, joining Manny Ramirez as the last Sox’s player to do so.

That home run was also the 444th home run as a designated hitter. He is now batting .274 on the year with 34 home runs and 95 runs batted in. He helped power a Red Sox 10-4 win over the Rays as well.

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