David Ortiz got a little emotional in talking to Boston Red Sox fans the day after a manhunt for the bombing suspects came to a conclusion.
With the team wearing special white jerseys with “BOSTON” sewn across the chest, Ortiz spoke at a pre-game ceremony before the Sox contest against the Kansas City Royals. The event included tributes to law enforcement officials and first responders to Monday’s blast, which killed three and left close to 180 injured.
The ceremony included a video tribute set to the Jeff Buckley song “Hallelujah,” with ceremonial first pitches and a national anthem that once again drew the entire crowd to sing along.
After the Red Sox game on Friday was canceled as nearly the entire city shut down during the manhunt for suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, Saturday’s contest brought a sense of relief, mourning, and celebration. It also coincided with the return of David Ortiz to the lineup after missing the entire season so far with an Achilles injury.
Speaking to the crowd, David Ortiz delivered a speech that was emotional.
Ortiz said:
“This jersey that we’re wearing today it doesn’t say ‘Red Sox.’ It says, ‘Boston.’ We want to thank you for you, Mayor Menino, Governor Patrick, the whole police department, for the great job that they did this past week. This is our f***ing city. And nobody is going to dictate our freedom. Stay strong.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csC0y_vek4o&feature=player_embedded
Though one bombing suspect was killed and the other captured, security remained high for the Red Sox return to Boston. The locker rooms were swept by men in military fatigues and extra law enforcement officials were on hand.
“This is a city that will count on us, and I understand that,” Red Sox outfielder Shane Victorino said before the game, via The Associated Press . “You might not see smiles on people’s faces, but you understand this is a trying time. This is a time for people in the city to embrace themselves and to go out there and be a part of that for this city.”
After David Ortiz’s speech to Boston fans and with emotions high following the manhunt for the bombing suspect, the team went on to defeat the Kansas City Royals 4-3 on a dramatic three-run home run in the bottom of the 8th inning.