Boston Red Sox: Mookie Betts skyrockets team to 10th-straight win
Mookie Betts continued his MVP-caliber season and the Boston Red Sox won their 10-straight game in a victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday night.
The Boston Red Sox were sleepwalking their way through the first three innings of Thursday night’s game. Boston trailed the Toronto Blue Jays 2-0 heading to the bottom of the fourth inning but were showing signs of waking up.
One run had crossed in the inning when Jackie Bradley Jr. walked to load the bases, bringing up Mookie Betts. Betts worked the count, fouling off pitch after pitch after pitch. He fouled off seven pitches before digging into the box once again.
On the 13th-pitch of the at-bat, Betts launched a ball over the Green Monster that still may very well be sailing through the atmosphere.
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Betts — and in turn, fans — loved every second of it, erupting in what can be described as the purest of joys.
The Red Sox held on for their 10th-straight win in defeating the Blue Jays 6-4. David Price rebounded from back-to-back bad outings as the Red Sox picked up an MLB-record 66th win prior to the all-star break.
But it was clear the night belonged to Betts.
Betts, Martinez and the MVP race
Betts raised his league-leading batting average to .352 and the home run was number 23. He has 49 RBI’s, scored 76 runs, hit 25 doubles and swiped 16 bases. Betts has continued to be a spark at the top of the lineup for Boston.
He doesn’t have to look far to MVP competition, though, as J.D. Martinez continues his run at the triple crown. Martinez has 28 home runs and 79 RBI’s while batting .329
Betts and Martinez will look to continue their hot-hitting ways as Boston finishes up the first half of the regular season with three more games against the Blue Jays.
Looking ahead
The victory on Thursday gave the Red Sox a record of 8-2 against the Blue Jays in 2018.
A 13-game winning streak heading into the All-Star break is not out of the question. And the Red Sox will have a couple of 11-game winners to help get them there.
Rick Porcello (11-3, 3.58 ERA) gets the nod on Friday. Porcello has not lost a decision in over a month. He has also pitched at least six innings in eight of his last nine starts.
Eduardo Rodriguez (11-3, 3.62 ERA) will take the hill on Saturday. After struggling in a couple of starts to end June, Rodriguez has rebounded nicely in his last two outings. The lefty has pitched 11.2 innings without allowing a run.
Sunday’s starter for the Red Sox has not yet been announced.
The Blue Jays will counter on Friday with Ryan Borucki (0-1, 2.25 ERA). Borucki has allowed only four runs in three starts in 2018. Saturday’s starter is still up in the air and Sunday will see Marcus Stroman (2-6, 5.90 ERA) take the mound.
Boston’s bats, however potent with Betts and Martinez, will be a little light over the weekend. Andrew Benintendi, who had picked up 14 hits in his last seven games, will miss at least Friday’s game after being placed on the bereavement list.
Rafael Devers went on the DL on Thursday and Steve Pearce — hitting .458 in nine games in Boston — is day-to-day with a contusion after being hit by a pitch.
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The Red Sox are playing great baseball. Even with the injuries, as long as Betts and Martinez are in the lineup, this team will be a force to be reckoned with.