Boston Red Sox extra bases: Mookie Betts simply on another level
Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts flexed his muscles in Anaheim Tuesday night by launching three homers in the team’s 10-1 victory over the Angels.
On a night where the spotlight was on Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani, Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts quickly dimmed that star delivering the third three-home run game of his career.
The first of those homers came in the first at-bat of the game. Betts, returning to the leadoff spot in the Red Sox lineup, launched a first-inning, leadoff home run off Ohtani. The blast really set the tone of the night as Boston ended the night with six home runs in the 10-1 victory.
With three of those homers, the 25-year-old Betts became the third player in MLB history to deliver three games of three home runs before the age of 26. In joining the legendary Ted Williams as the only Red Sox players to accomplish the feat, Betts is proving so far this season that his MVP-type performance in 2016 was no mirage.
All. Of. The. Homers. @mookiebetts with his SECOND of the game to make it 8-0! pic.twitter.com/UmPKM2EZ2V
— Red Sox (@RedSox) April 18, 2018
Through the first 16 games of the season, Betts now has five home runs and is tearing the cover off the ball. When things are going this good, especially with the kind of start the Boston Red Sox are off to, how could it be anything but fun?
"“It’s pretty fun,” Betts said following the game, via MLB.com. “Any time you can kind of do something like that, it’s huge to help the team. I just ride the wave.”"
It was also great to see Mookie Betts do it against a team other than the Baltimore Orioles. His three-homer output not only demonstrated his power, but also his patience at the plate.
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With the blast he hit off Ohtani, he worked a full count before knocking a 97-mph fastball into the stands at Angels stadium. It really set the trend for the night as the Red Sox bats knocked Ohtani out of the game in the third inning. They then made life miserable for Angels relievers. Along with Betts three homers, Rafael Devers, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Brock Holt also went deep.
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Mookie Betts on another level
The fast start by Mookie Betts is great to see if you are a Boston Red Sox fan. After somewhat of a down season statistically in 2017, the 2016 MVP runner up is once again proving that Mike Trout is not running away as the best player in baseball.
Don’t get me wrong, Betts still has to prove his consistency. He also has to show up as a leader, which he appears more than ready to do.
With a combination of speed, power and athleticism, the Boston Red Sox are going to have to show Betts the money if they want his star power to remain in Boston. Especially if he keeps this up all season long.
As of the middle of April (batting .389 with a 1.289 OPS), Mookie Betts is proving that he is on another level and forcing himself into the same conversation as Trout, just like he did in 2016.
With the way his confidence is beaming, I believe there will be no more dancing around that Mookie Betts is legit.
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That gives a new definition to the now retired “win, dance, repeat.”