Betts pegs perfect time to come up big
HOUSTON — There’s never a bad time for Mookie Betts to hit a hot streak.
But his timing right now is absolutely perfect.
With the game-winning home run and a run-preventing throw, Betts made the key plays in last night’s 2-1 victory over the Astros at Minute Maid Park.
The clutch performance helped the Red Sox to their fourth win in five games.
“He cuts down a run to finish the sixth, and then the first pitch to him in the eighth, he gives us the lead — just in a small snapshot, there’s Mookie’s skill set on both sides of the ball,” said manager John Farrell. “He’s a dynamic player, and those throws aren’t just by coincidence. The work he puts in, he throws a strike from right field at a key point in the game right there.”
Betts’ inning-ending throw to the plate in the sixth came on a hard-hit single by Carlos Correa with two outs, two on and the Red Sox ahead, 1-0. Even though Correa’s ball quickly got to Betts, who had time to run in on it and get into proper throwing position, George Springer was sent home by third base coach Gary Pettis.
Betts threw a one-hop strike to catcher Christian Vazquez, who had time to check his watch before slapping a tag on Springer.
Starter Drew Pomeranz laughed at the recollection.
“I was running back behind home, and by the time I turned back around, the ball was already skipping back to Vazquez and he wasn’t even close to starting his slide,” said Pomeranz. “It was pretty cool.”
Nothing about the play surprised Betts.
“I mean, with two outs I think you have to send him, Springer’s not slow, the ball was hit well,” said Betts. “I think you’ve got to send him, it was the right play, I just ended up making a good play.”
The Astros tied it in the seventh, but Betts, the first batter up in the eighth, smacked reliever Will Harris’ first pitch over the leftfield wall for a 2-1 lead that ended up as the final.
For Betts, it was his ninth extra-base hit over his last nine games — six doubles and three homers. He is not so slowly but very surely getting into Mookie Betts mode.
“A little,” said Betts about getting on a roll now. “Obviously I want to put it together longer, but I just want to take it day by day, try and help the team in some way and (last night) was a good day.”
Asked if he enjoyed the home run or throw more, Betts said, “The home run came at a big time but I think more fun is probably the throw. You don’t get those opportunities very much. For me to be successful at that time was definitely something I take pride in.”
The Red Sox gather more than pride from Betts’ accomplishments.
They are winning games because of him.