Boston Red Sox: Mookie Betts grants one wish with an historic night

Reigning league MVP Mookie Betts showed the New York Yankees his value in powering the Boston Red Sox AL leaders Friday night.

Trade Mookie Betts?  No way Dave Dombrowski, you better show this man the money to keep them doing what he did Friday night in a Boston Red Sox uniform.

Following a historic 19-3 victory over the New York Yankees Thursday night, the Red Sox followed it up with another toast to history behind the batt of Betts who flexed his muscles and showed the Bronx Bombers three bombs of his own.

Yes, behind the three home runs of Mookie Betts, the Red Sox took Game 2 of the four-game series with a 10-5 victory.

Not only was it the fifth time he has hit three homers in a game, he is now on a short list of eight players in MLB history who have had five games with at least three homers.  At his age, one can bet there will be a few more three-homer games added to his resume.

Making some noise

More importantly, Betts set the tone for the night and the win by taking Yankees starter James Paxton deep his first three at-bats of the game.  He is also setting the tone in the Boston Red Sox offense that has been lighting it up as of late.

The team has been riding the hot bats of Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts, but if Mookie Betts continue this, the New York Yankees and the rest of the American League needs to take notice.  The Red Sox will simply just out-slug teams the rest of the way, even if they don’t get pitching help come the MLB Trade Deadline.

In all, it was just great to see the star right fielder doing his thing at the plate and enjoying the moment with that classic Mookie Betts smile.

A wish come true

Who says this guy is not a marketable MLB star on and off the field?

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Well, Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora knows the value of Mookie when he is doing Mookie Betts things on the field.  But there is another kind of value off the field that makes Betts a special person.

Prior to his historic night at the plate, Betts took time to meet and entertain 10-year-old Nico Sapienza of Saugus, MA who was a guest of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  As meeting Mookie was Sapienza’s wish, Betts made that dream a reality and also served up a memory on the field that Sapienza, Red Sox Nation, Yankees starter James Paxton and Mookie Betts himself will never forget.

"“I’m glad he came,” Betts said.  “He was our good luck charm.  He’s a great kid.  I think him and his family had fun down in BP, and I think if I can kind of use the platform that I have to make people smile like that, then I know I’ve done something well.”"

Making up ground

As for the team’s position in the playoff race, the Red Sox are just a half-game back for the second spot in the AL Wild Card Standings and Betts knows now is the time for his team to get it together and find that magic they had in 2018.

"“Now is the time,” Betts said, via MLB.com.  “It’s late. Or getting late.  You have to start stringing together some wins and we’re doing that.”"

By taking two of three from the Tampa Bay Rays and now winning the first two against the New York Yankees, Mookie Betts and the Boston Red Sox appear to be on a mission.

Just nine games out in the AL East, the mission may be great than just the wild card.