Boston Herald

Betts shows cannon

Supposed weakness a strength

- By JASON MASTRODONA­TO Twitter: @JMastrodon­ato

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Mookie Betts couldn’t believe what he did last night.

His arm strength is supposed to be, well, a weakness.

A shortstop by trade, Betts was moved to second base in 2012, his first full year in the minors, in part because of concerns about his arm strength. When he finally moved to the outfield to accelerate his path to the majors in 2014, the one concern again was his arm strength.

Last night, Betts unleashed a vicious throw from the darkest corner of right field to nail Kevin

Kiermaier — considered an elite baserunner — for an out at third base in the eighth inning of the Sox’ 2-1 against the Rays. Betts was among the most surprised people in the building.

“I didn’t really know I could do that,” he said. “I think we were all surprised. With accuracy, I’ve been good, just from being in the infield. But throwing hard is what I didn’t know I could do.”

Kiermaier couldn’t believe it either.

“I was in shock over there at third base how I got thrown out,” he said. “I watched the video after the game and saw he made an absolutely perfect throw. I would not change anything. I’d do it again. I tip my hat to him.”

Betts might be even more surprised to learn that he has 10 outfield assists already this season, matching his season total from a year ago. He’s tied for 10th in the majors in the statistic.

“I think my arm strength has increased a lot,” he said. “I’ve lengthened out my arm to get a little more behind it and created a little more backspin so it’ll carry more. So I still have a little ways to go, but I can definitely see changes from then to now.”

David Ortiz called the throw one of the best he’s ever seen.

“And you might think it was probably a bad play, but if that throw wasn’t that perfect, he would have been safe,” Ortiz said. “I think he did that right thing. I didn’t know (Kiermaier) was that fast. Wow, that kid can fly. But that throw was perfect. It was unbelievab­le.”

Role reversal

Junichi Tazawa still believes he can change the mind of manager John Farrell and prove he’s too good a pitcher to be in a mop-up role.

A free agent at the end of the season after spending his entire eight-year profession­al career with the Sox, Tazawa could be going out at his worst. He has a 4.79 ERA overall and a 7.89 ERA in his past 24 games.

The 30-year-old reliever took some time to reflect on his career through a translator yesterday.

“It is what it is,” Tazawa told the Herald. “I know where I am in the bullpen, and I’ll do my best to get the best results in my position and try to win my position back.”

Once considered one of the elite setup men in the game, Tazawa’s 2.62 ERA from 2012-14 ranked 21st among all relief pitchers in that span, better than more than half the closers.

But he was also one of the most used relievers in the game, ranking second only to former St. Louis Cardinals closer Trevor

Rosenthal while appearing in 145 games (regular season and playoffs) from 2013-2014.

He was worn out by the end of 2015, when the Sox shut him down for the season’s final month. He has a 4.41 ERA since the beginning of last year.

“I don’t regret (throwing all those innings) at all,” he said. “It is the team that originally signed me, and I’m going to pitch for this team as well as I can throughout my contract.”

Tazawa is making $3.375 million this year and has made about $11.7 million during his career. Asked if he wished the Sox would have signed him to an extension, he said, “It’s hard to comment on that. There’s nothing that I can control. I’ll just try to play as well as I can throughout my contract and see where that leads to.”

Tazawa still has his sights on a setup role.

“I think all of it is mechanics, and I think I’ve been able to identify some things talking to various coaches,” he said.

Positive returns

Eduardo Rodriguez (hamstring) threw a simulated game, and Steven Wright (shoulder) threw a bullpen session yesterday. Both were successful steps in their recoveries.

“All the throwing that went on today with those two, along with Koji Uehara, was very positive,” Farrell said.

Wright said his shoulder, injured when he dove back to second base a pinch runner on Aug. 7, is “still a little achy, but when I get out on the mound, it doesn’t really bother me.”

Rodriguez said he didn’t feel anything in his left hamstring.

Tebow time?

ESPN reported yesterday that former NFL quarterbac­k Tim Tebow will work out for prospectiv­e MLB teams on Aug. 30. As the Herald reported last week, the Sox are planning to send a scout to see the 29-year-old Tebow, who is trying to convince teams he could be an outfielder. ...

Travis Shaw was in the lineup at third base and could have a chance to earn playing time at the hot corner with Brock Holt sidelined because of an oblique injury.

Shaw is hitting .208 with a .652 OPS since the beginning of June and has been playing almost exclusivel­y against right-handed pitching since the Sox acquired Aaron Hill from the Milwaukee Brewers.

 ?? AP PHOTO ?? GOTCHA! Travis Shaw tags out Tampa Bay’s Kevin Kiermaier at third base after a great throw from Mookie Betts during the eighth inning of last night’s game.
AP PHOTO GOTCHA! Travis Shaw tags out Tampa Bay’s Kevin Kiermaier at third base after a great throw from Mookie Betts during the eighth inning of last night’s game.

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