Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts removed with left foot contusion
By Sean Penney
Boston Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts was removed from Saturday’s game with a left foot contusion following a collision at home plate.
Mookie Betts got the Boston Red Sox off to a good start by drawing a lead-off walk. He wouldn’t end up finishing the game against the Baltimore Orioles.
The star right fielder was removed at the start of the fourth inning with a left foot contusion, according to the NESN broadcast.
Betts scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the first inning on an Andrew Benintendi double. His slide beat the throw on a play at the plate but Mookie appeared shaken by a collision with catcher Chance Sisco. Betts limped to the dugout where he exchanged high-fives with teammates before a trainer accompanied him to the clubhouse.
While he initially stayed in the game in right field for two more innings, picking up another plate appearance along the way, Betts was pulled mid-way through the game. Boston led 4-0 at the time so the move may have been merely precautionary in a game the felt well in hand. The Red Sox tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the fourth to essentially put the game out of reach.
Jackie Bradley moved to right field to replace Betts with Benintendi sliding over to center. Blake Swhiart came in to play left field at Fenway Park for the first time since he injured his ankle running into a wall in 2016.
Betts is off to an outstanding start to the season. He entered the day hitting .360/.450/.620 through 13 games. His seven doubles tie him for the league lead and he’s added a pair of homers and steals. He scored his league-leading 16th run of the season on the play he was injured in the first inning.
In addition to his elite production at the plate, the two-time Gold Glove winner is also the best defense right fielder in the game. Boston can’t afford to have Betts sidelined for long.
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The good news is the injury doesn’t appear any more serious than a bruised foot. X-Rays were negative and the fact that he played two more innings before departing is a good sign. It’s possible he sits out on Sunday but expect Betts to be back in the lineup soon.