Betts bursts Sox’ skid
Two HRs too much for Jays
TORONTO — When in trouble, or doubt, leave it to Mookie Betts.
Betts, the Red Sox’ fixer, slugged two home runs in last night’s 4-3 victory over the Blue Jays to end a three-game slide.
After his leadoff home run, Betts’ second blast was a two-run shot he lifted over the right-field fence in the seventh inning to give the Sox the slim 4-3 lead.
The Sox began the game five days removed from their last victory, a stretch in which their offense had scored only four runs over the three losses.
Last night, with six hits in all, did not mark a revival of the early-season scoring surge when doubledigits were assumed. But it was enough, and that’s all that counts.
“We’ve had some good opportunities. Today we had some opportunities to score more runs and we did push those across,” said Betts. “Obviously we’re not going to score six every game and get 15 hits every game, but it’s important for us to win close games like this to go along with the high-scoring ones.”
Betts now has eight home runs on the season, with his leadoff home run his third this season and 14th of his career. Last night also marked his third three-RBI game of the season.
Betts feels more prepared than ever to take what he’s learning in between games into games.
“A lot more (prepared). We have new eyes, so they prepare us in different ways,” said Betts. “Going out there knowing I’m trusting my ability and I’m prepared and ready for whoever’s on the mound, it’s huge.”
Manager Alex Cora beamed talking about Betts. He knows how good Betts is.
“They’re special — the Trouts, the Altuves, the more at-bats they get, the better you feel about it,” said Cora. “Right away, he hits the ball out of the ballpark and you start thinking, ‘special night for him.’ So, I’m glad that he’s on my team. He’s a complete player.”
Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez delivered his third quality start in a row, allowing three runs over 62⁄3 innings in which he allowed six hits — one a home run — and walked one with three strikeouts. The victory was Rodriguez’ third in his last three starts.
Craig Kimbrel, who lost the first game of the series Tuesday night when he allowed a 10th-inning home run to Curtis Granderson, pitched the ninth and collected his sixth save.
That offense perked up a little bit against Toronto and starter Aaron Sanchez, who surrendered two runs on three hits. Betts’ second home run came off reliever Danny Barnes.
After Betts’ leadoff solo shot, Rodriguez wasted almost no time in giving up that lead in the bottom of the first. Steve Pearce led off with a hard double off the left-field wall, and scored when third baseman Rafael Devers’ throw on a Justin Smoak groundball got by first baseman Hanley Ramirez.
After overcoming another error by Devers in the second, Rodriguez retired eight straight and 12 of his next 13 he faced. The Sox took another onerun lead in the fifth, when Brock Holt’s no-out double knocked in Jackie Bradley Jr. (leadoff walk).
But Rodriguez gave the lead right back in the bottom of the fifth. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit an infield single and then stole second before Pearce singled him in to tie the game at 2. In the sixth, Yangervis Solarte led off with a laserbeam homer for a 3-2 lead.