Big-hitting Ortiz blasted two home runs in a devastating display against Boston's American League (AL) East division rivals that saw the Red Sox record their fifth consecutive win.
Ortiz's performance in the opening game of their four-game series at Rogers Field in Toronto, which lifted him into 36th position on Boston's all-time list for homers, helped the Red Sox improve to 47-52 for the season.
The Red Sox, who also benefited from Stephen Drew's three-run homer, remain seven-and-a-half games adrift in the East.
Toronto suffered the biggest blow after AL East division leaders the Baltimore Orioles (54-44) upstaged the Los Angeles Angels 4-2.
Baltimore's success means the Blue Jays (51-49) are four games behind the Orioles, with the New York Yankees (50-48) also in arrears by the same margin following their 4-2 loss to the Texas Rangers.
In other results on Monday, the National League East-leading Washington Nationals accounted for the misfiring Colorado Rockies 7-2 to consolidate top spot.
Ian Desmond had a career-high five hits and a two-run homer as the Nationals, who condemned the Rockies to a third successive loss, stayed a game clear of the Atlanta Braves atop the standings.
The Braves were beaten 3-1 by the Miami Marlins after 10 innings at Turner Field.
Torii Hunter and Austin Jackson both homered to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 4-3 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The result ensured back-to-back wins for the AL Central leaders.
Kyle Seager had two runs, while Mike Zunino homered as the Seattle Mariners downed the New York Mets 5-2.
In Pittsburgh, the Los Angeles Dodgers were 5-2 winners over the Pirates.
Elsewhere, the Cincinnati Reds crashed to a fourth consecutive defeat following their 5-2 loss against the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Kansas City Royals are also in the midst of a four-game losing streak after the Chicago White Sox recorded a 3-1 triumph.
Adam Duvall hit a two-run homer as the San Francisco Giants beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-4, while the Minnesota Twins edged the Cleveland Indians 4-3.