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Mookie madness: Betts’ 2 homers sink O’s
- Updated: August 17, 2016
BALTIMORE — Mookie Betts single-handedly beat the Orioles on Tuesday night, homering twice and driving in all five of the Red Sox’s runs in a 5-3 victory.
Betts’ blasts give him seven homers in five games at Camden Yards this season and puts Boston — winners of five straight — a half-game back in the American League East in what should be a thrilling final month-and-a-half. Baltimore is tied with the Red Sox, with both teams chasing Toronto by one game. With identical 66-52 records, Boston and Baltimore occupy the top two spots in the AL Wild Card standings.
The latest power surge by Betts came just two days after his second three-homer game of the season. He has 28 homers, leading David Ortiz by one for the club lead. Betts is the first visiting player to hit seven homers in a season at Camden Yards.
“I’m just comfortable,” said Betts. “I like it here in Baltimore, just hitting in this park and what not. Maybe that’s the reason why.”
• Betts continues rampage at Camden Yards
Betts first went deep in the fifth inning, off Orioles starter Yovani Gallardo, hitting a three-run shot that broke a scoreless tie. After Baltimore tied the game in the seventh, on Matt Wieters’ two-run single and Adam Jones’ bases-loaded walk, Betts struck again.
This time, the homer came off of reliever Brad Brach, with Ortiz on and no outs in the eighth inning.
• Brach’s second-half struggles continue
“Yovani pitched pretty well. He made one mistake and Brad made one mistake and we paid for it,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “But [Betts is] a good player. We shouldn’t feel like he’s picking on us.”
Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez held the Orioles hitless before exiting with hamstring tightness in the fifth. The O’s didn’t record their first hit until Steve Pearce’s infield single in the seventh inning.
MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDE-Rod dominant, then hurt: Rodriguez had overpowering stuff before he left the game, striking out seven in his abbreviated performance. The lefty appeared to be getting stronger as the night went on, striking out the side in the …
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