Mookie Betts’ 6 RBIs leads Red Sox to dominating 11-1 win over A’s
By Gio Rivera
Mookie Betts’ dominant night at the plate leads the Boston Red Sox to a crushing victory over the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night, increasing their lead over the New York Yankees to 4.0 games.
It hasn’t been an MVP contending season for last year’s runner-up Mookie Betts, however after tonight, the 24-year old Boston Red Sox right fielder is on track to putting together a strong follow up season.
From June to August, Betts’ batting average has experienced an unusual and notable decline.
Mookie Betts batting average (monthly):
- June: .296 (28 games, 130 plate appearaces)
- July: .243 (26 games, 128 plate appearances)
- August: .223 (26 games, 122 plate appearaces)
- Sept/Oct: .250 (9 games, 42 plate appearances)
Prior to tonight’s game, Betts was hitting .261 with 19 home runs and 81 RBIs.
Now after a 3-for-55, 6 RBI night, the average stands at .264 with 21 home runs and 87 RBIs for the 2017 season.
Betts entered tonight’s game, batting just .176 in 19 total plate appearances against the Oakland Athletics with no home runs and just 1 RBI this season.
Red Sox History
It only took 1 of his 2 home runs tonight to make it a historic game for Betts who became the only Red Sox in history to go 20-20 in back to back seasons.
The only other player to complete multiple 20-20 seasons as a member of the Red Sox was Jackie Jensen who did so in 1954 when he hit 25 home runs while stealing 20 bases. Then again in 1959 when Jensen totaled 28 home runs to accompany his 20 stolen bases.
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Former Red Sox and now Yankees outfielder, Jacoby Ellsbury also added a 20-20 season to his resume when in Boston back in 2011 (32 home runs, 39 stolen bases) when Ellsbury constructed his best statistical season as a big league player.
However when Jensen and Ellsbury did so for the first time, they were both 27 years old.
Betts did so at ages 23 and 24 in back-to-back seasons.
Where the Red Sox stand
With tonight’s dominant 11-1 win and New York’s 2-1 loss to Tampa Bay, the Red Sox sit 4.0 games above the Yankees with 18 games remaining in the regular season.
Their current magic number to clinch the American League East is now 15.
Boston has two more games against baseballs worst team on the road in the Oakland A’s.
Next: Boston Red Sox: Doug Fister the team’s pocket ace
Doug Fister takes the mound on Wednesday night.