FORT MYERS, Fla. — Boston celebrated David Ortiz’s two decades of spring training in Fort Myers with a pregame ceremony before his final home exhibition game, a 5-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Monday.

Ortiz announced on his 40th birthday in November that this will be his final season. He trained in Fort Myers with the Minnesota Twins and then since 1993 with the Red Sox.

Ortiz went 0 for 3 and left after the sixth inning in a golf cart decorated with his number 34 and the flag of the Dominican Republic on its roof. The cart was driven by a pair of former Red Sox starts: Hall of Famer Jim Rice and Luis Tiant.

“Very nice, very nice,” Ortiz said. “I’ve been coming to Fort Myers for a long time. To get to the point where you can get to say goodbye as a player, it’s really good.

“It’s crazy. I wasn’t expecting any of it but it happened. Whenever somebody comes to you with a gift, it’s always welcomed, right? The Red Sox and the city of Fort Myers, I really thank them for being so nice.”

Xavier Avery, Nolan Reimold and Francisco Pena homered for the Orioles, with Avery connecting on Rick Porcello’s second pitch of the game.

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Porcello, Boston’s No. 3 starter, gave up five runs, 10 hits and three walks in 62/3 innings, striking out five. He allowed three home runs.

In four exhibition outings and 152/3 innings, Porcello allowed 17 runs, 29 hits and four walks. He has a 9.77 ERA.

“He’s capable of better,” Manager John Farrell said. “He’s shown that.”

NOTES: Right-hander Carson Smith has been sidelined by a flexor muscle strain and will start the season on the disabled list as will right-hander Brandon Workman and catcher Christian Vazquez, who are returning from Tommy John surgery. Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, who has been sidelined by a right knee injury, will start the season on the DL, too. … Third baseman Pablo Sandoval, sidelined since Thursday with lower back stiffness, was 0 for 3 and played five innings in a minor league game against Tampa Bay’s Class A team. The Red Sox hope to get him into the major league game on Tuesday. … Reliever Koji Uehara, who has been sidelined with general soreness, pitched one inning in that game … Outfielder David Murphy was released, a day after exercising his opt out provision. … Boston optioned infielder Deven Marrero to Triple-A Pawtucket. Infielder Josh Rutledge, first baseman/outfielder Allen Craig, outfielder Brennan Boesch, catchers Dan Butler and Sandy Leon and right-handed pitcher Anthony Varvaro were reassigned to minor league camp. Right-hander pitcher Carlos Marmol was released.


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