ar and match the record of nine consecutive wins by Alberto Ascari in the 19

BALTIMORE -- Just in case it wasnt already clear that David Ortiz is having the best farewell season in baseball history, the 40-year-old Boston Red Sox slugger applied a statistical exclamation mark Tuesday night.Ortiz belted his 36th home run of the season, a three-run shot in the seventh inning against Baltimore Orioles starter Kevin Gausman. It gave the division-leading Red Sox a four-run lead en route to a 5-2 victory, their sixth consecutive win.But Ortiz also passed Dave Kingman for the most homers ever by a major league player in his final season. At age 37, Kingman hit 35 homers for the Oakland Athletics in 1986.Ill have to hit a couple of more so nobody can reach me, Ortiz said, laughing. Its just a number, man. Im just trying to help this ballclub. I dont really care about personal numbers. I care about winning.His three RBIs gave him 121 on the season, putting him three shy of passing Shoeless Joe Jackson for the most in a players final season since the RBI became an official stat in 1920.Ortiz used his homer against Gausman as an illustration of how he has matured as a hitter over the years. He noted that Gausman throws a good splitter to offset his high-90s fastball. But because the Orioles right-hander was throwing particularly hard, Ortiz said he decided to lay off the splitter and sit on the heater.I told myself, well, I have to shoot for either fastball or splitter, but I know hes throwing his best fastball right now, Ortiz said. Sometimes we get caught in trouble when we have that doubt about the things we want to do. Im not saying experience is 100 percent what youre looking for, but it gives you a balance of good things that youre going to decide to do.Before the game, Ortiz spoke to reporters on the occasion of his final series in Baltimore. And just as he has everywhere else he has been during his last hurrah, he was asked if theres any chance he might change his mind and return in 2017.The answer, once again, was a resounding no.You know, its just my body, man, said Ortiz, who has played through pain in his feet and ankles since he injured his Achilles in 2012. I wish I could continue playing, but it takes a lot out of me. Ive been dealing with it for the past four years. Every year gets worse. Ive got to put a lot of effort and lot of work to perform at my highest level. At some point, it wears you out.Ortiz laughed at the suggestion that he likely could continue to put up big numbers for another 10 years.I dont think anybody hits until theyre 50. Maybe Julio Franco, Ortiz said. Yeah, man, I got a little crazy, but Ive played in a lot of pain. It is what it is, man. I love this game. Its been my everything. But [its] not forever. Chris Smalling Manchester United Jersey . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. Sergio Romero Jersey http://www.jerseymanchesterunitedsoccer.com/womens-javier-hernandez-manchester-united-jersey/ . -- Most satisfying to Russ Smith about No. Antonio Valencia Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. Anders Lindegaard Jersey . Vettel, who has already clinched his fourth straight F1 title, enters the finale with a chance to equal Michael Schumachers 13 victories in a year and match the record of nine consecutive wins by Alberto Ascari in the 1952 and 1953 seasons. NEW YORK -- Atlanta Braves reliever Jose Ramirez has dropped the appeal of his three-game suspension for throwing a pitch near the head of Miami Marlins ace Jose Fernandez.Ramirez began serving his penalty Wednesday against the New York Mets. He will miss two more games in Miami before he is eligible to return Saturday against the Marlins.A hearing had been scheduled for Wednesday before Ramirez elected to drop his appeal. The rookie right-hander had pitched in two straight games and three of the past four, so he probably woould have been unavailable for a day or two anyway.dddddddddddd.Ramirez was disciplined Friday by Major League Baseball, two days after a testy game between Atlanta and Miami. He was ejected in the seventh inning after a high pitch to Fernandez, who ducked under it. Both benches emptied during a brief fracas, but no punches were thrown.Ramirez is 2-2 with a 3.99 ERA in 29 appearances this season. ' ' '