Focus on the positive: Mookie Betts officially takes his magic to Triple-A Pawtucket

A few hours before Boston’s gut-wrenching, frustrating loss to Cleveland in the 12th inning of a rain-delayed game last night, there was a totally different feeling in Durham, North Carolina.

Durham Bulls Athletic Park was the site of the biggest hit of Mookie Betts’ young career on Wednesday. The prospect that every Sox fan has their eyes on these days was playing in only his second game for Triple-A Pawtucket. In the top of the 11th inning, Betts smashed a solo home run that would prove to be the eventual game winner.

Pawtucket was down 7-4 heading into the 9th inning and was able to rally to tie the game and force extra innings. Mookie was 3-6 on the night, and although he did hit into a double play in the 9th with the leading run on, his home run in the 11th proved that “Mookie Magic” has officially made its way to Triple-A, giving the PawSox an 8-7 victory. In Double-A Portland, Mookie had caught fire and was hitting .355 with 34 RBI, 6 HR, 18 doubles and an OPS of .994 before getting the call up.

Mookie Betts has been clutch, exciting to watch and a spark that gets the rest of the lineup going – all things the big league club is clearly lacking. While the Red Sox continue to try to find the right combination in their lineup, their struggles at the plate are becoming more glaring every night. How much longer are fans going to have to wait to cheer for some “Mookie Magic” at Fenway?

If he keeps this up and continues to have moments like last night in Durham, it should only be a matter of time before Mookie is the man in Boston. Wednesday night may have only been a small victory for Sox fans, but small victories are all we have these days.