Betts saves a homer
Trailing by three runs early in the game, the last thing the Red Sox needed was to allow the Astros to double their lead. A six run deficit in an elimination game may have put Boston away and it almost happened in the second inning.
Mookie Betts wasn’t about to let it happen.
Joe Kelly entered the game with one out in the second inning, inheriting a pair of runners from starter Doug Fister. Kelly retired George Springer by getting him to ground out to the shortstop but he still had to get through Josh Reddick to escape the jam.
Reddick ran the count full as Kelly struggled to put him away with upper 90’s heat. On the eighth pitch of the at-bat, Reddick hammered a slider that seemed destined to fall into the right field seats. Betts raced back to the wall, reaching over into the stands to make the home-run robbing catch.
RF belongs to @mookiebetts. pic.twitter.com/w45hYkHDmx
— Red Sox (@RedSox) October 8, 2017
Instead of facing a seemingly insurmountable lead, Betts ensured the deficit remained manageable enough to set up a comeback.
Amazing defensive plays are nothing new for Betts, who led all major league outfielders with 31 defensive runs saved. While postseason results don’t factor into season awards, this catch is a reminder of why Betts deserves to win his second consecutive Gold Glove Award in right field.