Boston Red Sox outfielder and young upcoming slugger Mookie Betts continues to crush the baseball this season. For the second time this season, he has hit three home runs in a single game. He became the 21st player in MLB history to do that in a single season.
He dominated former Cy Young pitcher Zach Greinke of the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday. In the bottom of the first inning, Betts smacked one of his three home runs. His first homer was a two-run shot to left field way over the legendary 37-foot Green Monster in Fenway Park. An inning later, he blasted a three-run shot off Greinke to left. In the first two innings of the game, Betts had five RBIs in just the second inning as the Red Sox had a commanding 9-0 lead.
Greinke got rocked in just one and two-third innings pitched. He allowed nine runs along with 10 hits. Despite his putrid performance, Greinke drops to 11-4 on the campaign with a 4.31 ERA. The Red Sox were victorious in a 16-2 slaughter fest over the struggling D-Backs who are last in the National League West (48-69).
With Greinke’s early departure on Sunday, the 24-year old out of Brentwood, Tennessee continued his stellar performance. In his third at-bat, Betts ripped a single in the bottom of the fourth against Arizona reliever Dominic Leone. Leone finished the fourth inning and then the D-Backs turned to Adam Loewen who then faced Betts in the fifth inning.
Betts slammed another three-run home run giving him eight RBIs on the afternoon, with four runs scored and was batting a perfect 4-for-4 in just five innings. The Red Sox were up 16-1 at that point.
Betts would finish the day going 4-for-6 in the easy victory. He flew out to right field to conclude the sixth inning and grounded to third base to conclude the eighth inning.
The Red Sox improve their record to 65-52 in the American League East, six and a half games out of the first place Baltimore Orioles (67-51).
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Rick Porcello picked up his 16th victory of the year (16-3). He struck out four, let up three hits on one run in seven innings pitcher. His ERA is at 3.30.
Betts is batting .313 on the season,leading the Red sox in batting average. He also has 26 home runs and 84 RBIs on the season.
