Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts lead Boston Red Sox in thrilling comeback win

Boston Red Sox slugger Mookie Betts channeled the great David Ortiz with a clutch two-run double in the bottom of the ninth to cap a comeback victory.

It seemed fitting that just weeks after commenting on the leadership David Ortiz left behind, Mookie Betts would come up clutch in the type of game the Boston Red Sox won Wednesday night at Fenway Park.

On a team searching for a leader on and off the field, Betts has showcased he can do it with the bat.  With the team trailing the St. Louis Cardinals 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth, Mookie stepped to the plate in a situation Big Papi feasted on.

Betts locked in at the plate and lined a two-out, two-strike, two-run double off the Green Monster to send the Fenway faithful into the night victorious.

The 5-4 victory kept the Red Sox 4 ½ games up on the rival New York Yankees in the American League East.  Most importantly, it also showcased the identity this team is finding with each win down the stretch.  A team playing hard and pulling out victories from the hands of defeat.

"“I think we’re just playing the game, playing hard and playing nine innings and not giving up no matter what the score is,” Betts said following the game, via MLB.com.  “I think we’re just, like I said, learning our identity and grinding.”"

Xander Bogaerts shakes out of it

While it was great to see Mookie Betts deliver in a clutch situation, it wouldn’t have been possible if shortstop Xander Bogaerts didn’t draw the team closer with this lead-off home run to begin the inning.

Overall, the man who calls himself “X,” is hitting his way out of a slump that saw him go 24-for-

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123 prior to Tuesday night’s game in which he delivered 3 hits.  Along with the home run in Wednesday night’s game, it appears Bogaerts is finding his way at the plate.

With the emergence of rookies Andrew Benintendi and Rafael Devers the last couple weeks, it would be beyond great if Bogaerts turns back into the .300 hitter he was prior to his injury.  While he admitted the injury to his hand is still bothersome, he is working through it to become as competitive at the plate as possible.

"“Working on everything,” Bogaerts said Tuesday, via ESPN.  “Go out there and try to put up a competitive at-bat.  Sometimes you’re wondering what you’re even doing up there after you see the at-bat you had is pretty bad.  Sometimes you have a good swing and can’t do anything about [the result].  Just try to take the positive from those types of stuff and move forward.”"

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Move forward is what Bogarts has done.  His home run in the bottom of the ninth Wednesday night proves it.  Hopefully it has gotten him completely out of the worst slump of his career.