CHICAGO -- With the White Sox set to honor the Boston Red Sox designated hitter in what will be his last regular-season game at U.S. Cellular Field on Thursday, David Ortiz gave Chicago's fans and players something to remember in Boston's 5-2 victory by hitting his sixth home run of the season.

It was a nice piece of vengeance for the Red Sox veteran, because Tuesday night, Ortiz came oh-so-close to hitting a home run in the second inning against the White Sox, backing Austin Jackson up against the center-field fence. So when he jacked his home run Wednesday night to give the Red Sox a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning, it had to be that much sweeter. Add in that it was the first home run ever hit by a lefty off White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon, and it will be something for Rodon to remember as well. But most important, it was the big blow in the Red Sox's first win against a left-handed starting pitcher this season.

The Red Sox also had their best game on offense against an opposing lefty starter this season, scoring three runs against Rodon in six innings after scratching out only two runs in their previous 23 frames against southpaws. The Red Sox still have to do a better job against opposing lefties, but scoring multiple runs in a game and getting into the win column against one is definitely a step in the right direction.

Ortiz's big blast was also the 509th of his career, which elevates him into a tie with Gary Sheffield for 25th all time. Next up for Big Papi at No. 24 is New York Giants Hall of Famer Mel Ott, who hit 511, with Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks and Braves Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews tied for 22nd at 512. Notice a trend as far as the company he's keeping?

In the seventh, Ortiz tacked on a key insurance run; although he fell behind 0-2 against the situational lefty, Zach Duke, brought in to get him, Ortiz battled back to ground an RBI single through the left side of the infield and away from a White Sox shift with two men on to pad Boston's lead.

By scoring in both the seventh and eighth innings, the Red Sox also ground out more than enough runs to make a first-time winner out of veteran Clay Buchholz in the 2016 season. Buchholz notched his second quality start in his sixth turn as the Red Sox also won for the first time in one of his starts. With Koji Uehara and Craig Kimbrel blanking the White Sox in the eighth and ninth, it was a victory almost perfectly drawn to general manager Dave Dombrowski's design.

Christina Kahrl writes about MLB for ESPN. You can follow her on Twitter.