Red Sox Strut: Outfielder Mookie Betts, LHP Chris Sale

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BOSTON, MA – MAY 12: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox hits a foul ball during the sixth inning of a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on May 12, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Rays won 5-4. (Photo by Rich Gagnon/Getty Images) /

Position Player who gets to Strut

What a week it has been for Mookie Betts. First he was named as an All-Star reserve for the American League team, then was bumped up into the starting lineup as a replacement for the injured Mike Trout. It will be the second All-Star appearance for Betts and he’ll have been a starter in both of them. Ted Williams is the only other Red Sox player to start multiple All-Star games before the age of 25.

Betts celebrated the honor by delivering his best week of the season. He hit .448/.553/.862 with three home runs, three doubles, three steals and 11 RBI to earn the AL Player of the Week award.

https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/881940313836834817

During Sunday’s 15-1 blowout of the Blue Jays, he tied the major league record for most RBIs by a leadoff hitter in a single game with eight. Betts had an eight-RBI game last August after being moved toward the middle of the lineup. His two career eight-RBI performances matches Nomar Garciaparra for the franchise record.

Betts was 4-for-6 with two home runs in that game. The first was a three-run blast in the fourth inning after Deven Marrero and Tzu-Wei Lin reached on bunt singles, prompting Betts to briefly consider if he should drop down a bunt as well. While you can understand the logic of trying to catch the opponent off guard – who would ever see three straight bunts coming? – the Red Sox are glad he decided to swing away.

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