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David Ortiz nicknamed 'Cooperstown' by Red Sox teammates

Slugger is batting .727 in World Series and also giving pep talks.

By Evan Bleier
Boston Red Sox David Ortiz swings the bat, hitting a double in the fifth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 4 of the World Series at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on October 27, 2013. Boston won the game 4-2 and the series is now tied at two games each.(File/UPI/Bill Greenblatt)
1 of 18 | Boston Red Sox David Ortiz swings the bat, hitting a double in the fifth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 4 of the World Series at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on October 27, 2013. Boston won the game 4-2 and the series is now tied at two games each.(File/UPI/Bill Greenblatt) | License Photo

(UPI) -- David Ortiz is off to a blistering start for the Boston Red Sox during the first four games of the 2013 World Series and his teammates have fittingly taken to calling him “Cooperstown.”

Ortiz is batting 8-for-11 in the series with two homers and five RBI through four games, good for an average of .727. In addition to the hits, Ortiz has also walked four times.

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During last night’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Ortiz also helped his team out with something other than his bat -- his mouth. Somewhere around the fifth inning, Ortiz gathered his teammates in the dugout for a pep talk.

"Stud," Red Sox catcher David Ross said. "That's why we call him 'Cooperstown.' He does it every day. It's unbelievable. The guy got us going -- his energy, the way he rises to the occasion. You guys have probably seen it way longer than I have, but being a part of it and seeing it on my team, I'm amazed on a daily basis."

So what was the message?

"Just be ourselves, let's have fun, play our game," Ross said. "This opportunity doesn't come around. This is special. Let's leave it all out there. Let's do what we do best. When he talks, you listen."

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Boston won the game 4-2.

"I’m one of the guys that have been here the longest," Ortiz said after the win. "I’ve been in this situation before and I know we have a better offensive team than what we’ve showed. When you’re putting pressure on yourself and you’re trying to overdo things, it doesn’t always work. We know that the Cardinals have a really good pitching staff, but we’ve faced good pitching before and we’ve put up some good at-bats and that’s pretty much not happening. Just one of those speeches that motivate players and bring you to reality.”

Ortiz, 37, knows this might be his last time playing in the World Series.

"Hey, remember, the World Series is not in months," Ortiz said. "It’s about 10 days. You’ve got to bring your A-game every day. it’s like I told my teammates, you think you’re going to come to the World Series every year, you’re wrong. Especially playing in the AL East. You know how many people we beat up to get to this level? A lot of good teams. that doesn’t happen every year. I told them, it took me five years to get back on this stage and we have a better team than what we have right now and we never made it. Take advantage of being here.”

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“I will do it tomorrow again if I have to."

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