Sox right fielder Jacoby Ellsbury robs the Orioles’ Aubrey Huff of what would have been a sure home run in the fifth inning.

The Providence Journal / Bob Breidenbach

BOSTON — Maybe it’s just a coincidence that the Red Sox consecutive string of sellouts at Fenway Park began only a few days before David Ortiz became a permanent fixture in the lineup. Either way, as today’s game became official, the Red Sox tied a major-league record for sellouts with 455, just one shy of the all-time mark.

Boston ties Cleveland, which set the mark from June 12, 1995, to April 2, 2001. The Sox’ current streak began on May 15, 2003. Ortiz became an every-day player May 29.

“There’s been so many good things happening around here the last five or six years that people just like giving support to this ball club,” Ortiz said. “As a player, I can tell you right now, you don’t feel the same way every day, but when you see that crowd, it puts you in the mood. It changes your mind. It happens to me a lot.”

When Ortiz was a member of the Minnesota Twins and a visiting player at Fenway, he recalled that only when Pedro Martinez pitched was there a sellout. Red Sox veteran Tim Wakefield is the most familiar with these surroundings. He’s been here for 14 seasons and realizes just how special Red Sox fans are.

“It’s incredible,” he said of the sellout streak. "For them to come out in droves and support us the way they have is really incredible.”

Unlike Wakefield, who remembers seeing empty seats at Fenway, Red Sox manager Terry Francona knows nothing but playing before a sellout crowd every night.

“I’ve seen nothing but sellouts since I’ve been here,” Francona said. “Think about that. That’s unbelievable.

He was hired to skipper this club before the 2004 season, and he’s since won two World Series titles and is pressing toward third this October.

Every game is so meaningful, and I love that,” said Francona, who also managed the Phillies. “It’s a good feeling.”

When new players arrive here, the veterans always explain to those guys that every game at Fenway Park is treated like it’s Game Seven of the World Series.

Circling the bases

After the game, the Sox optioned outfielder Jonathan Van Every back to Pawtucket, where he was in the starting lineup for the first game of the Pawsox’ playoff series with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. … For the first time since May 11 against Minnesota, Alex Cora enjoyed a three-hit game. He’s hit safely in his last six games with at least one at-bat. In that span, Cora is hitting .417 (10-for-24). … Though he failed to get the win and become the first Japanese-born pitcher to win more than 16 games in a single MLB season, Daisuke Matsuzaka extended his unbeaten streak to seven games, during which he’s 5-0 with two no-decisions and a 2.54 ERA. Over his last four starts, Matsuzaka has 28 strikeouts in 25 innings. … Yesterday’s win was the fifth walkoff win of the year for the Sox and first since Aug. 1 against Oakland. … The Sox have won 19 games in their final at-bat, tying them for the most in the American League in that category. … The Sox finished 12-6 against Baltimore, including 7-2 in games at Fenway.

jmcdonal@projo.com