Ellsbury claims his taco

Jacoby Ellsbury chomped down on a taco during Taco Bell's free taco promotion today. Ellsbury helped bring the promotion to fruition by stealing a base in the World Series. (Pat Greenhouse / Globe Staff)

Jacoby Ellsbury reaped the rewards of his fast footwork on the basepaths today, appearing at a Taco Bell in Boston to claim one of the free tacos that the fast-food chain promised to customers nationwide if a player stole a base during the World Series.

The Red Sox outfielder stole second base in the fourth inning of the second game of the series, putting the company's ``Steal a Base, Steal a Taco'' promotion into play and elevating the rookie's profile as a promo man.

Ellsbury was mobbed by fans at the restaurant. The Taco Bell appearance is just one of the deals that he expects to ink before the glow of the Red Sox series victory fades, according to his agent, Joseph Urbon.

Not everyone was enamored of the marketing push by the California-based Mexican fast-food chain, a division of YUM! Brands, which has added staffers, security and bulked up orders for tomatos, beef and other taco fixings in anticipation of a run on tacos at its 5,800 stores nationwide today.

The promotion was talked up by Fox broadcasters during the series, and the network played snippets of players in the Red Sox dugout overheard discussing the giveaway, drawing criticism from some fans.

Taco Bell spokesman Rob Poetsch said the company expected to give away "millions and millions of tacos" today. (Globe staff)