BOSTON -- How much does Mookie Betts know about the Boston Red Sox 1975 pennant-winning team that was honored Tuesday with a pregame ceremony celebrating their 40th anniversary?
"Absolutely nothing," Betts said, later admitting that he at least knew about Carlton Fisk's iconic Game 6 home run. "Nothing against anybody, I just don't really know anything else."
We'll give Betts the benefit of the doubt as he was born in 1992, well after that bunch fell in Game 7 against the Big Red Machine. But now, after a performance against the Tampa Bay Rays where Betts hit multiple home runs in the same game for the first time in his major league career, he himself shares in a bit of team history that dates back to that same year.
At 22 years old, Betts became the youngest Red Sox player with a multi-homer game since Jim Rice accomplished the feat as a rookie in 1975. The home runs would prove to be critical for the Red Sox, as they were the only runs they would score on their way to beating the Rays 2-0 Tuesday night, halting their four-game losing streak.
"I think we just needed a win," Betts said. "But a win like this is huge because it's a momentum thing. We can carry it into tomorrow and whoever is on the bump I'm sure is going to continue that and we'll score a few more runs tomorrow."
Betts' first home run came at a pretty ominous time for the Red Sox. No-hit by Rays starter Drew Smyly through the first five innings, Betts led off the sixth by hitting a slider from Smyly over the Green Monster in left field to give his team a 1-0 lead. The home run was Betts' first since the Red Sox home opener at Fenway Park on April 13.
"He had been blowing fastballs by me all night, so I was just kind of ready for a fastball," Betts said. "And he left another [pitch] up there and I was able to pretty much swing at it."
The wait for Betts' second home run wouldn't nearly be as long. In his next at-bat against Ernesto Frieri in the eighth, Betts hit a first-pitch fastball that once again cleared the Monster and made the score Betts 2, Rays 0.
"First pitch ready to go," Betts said. "I figured he'd try to get strike one. You gotta be ready for that."
While his .234 batting average doesn't show for much, Betts has been hitting the ball with authority for the Red Sox most of this season. Each of his last five hits have gone for extra bases, as team manager John Farrell continues to be impressed with what the youngster can do.
"Take away the average -- his timing at the plate is pretty consistent even though he's had some balls where he's hit hard right at some people," Farrell said. "He's one heck of an athlete. We're seeing some special things in a short glimpse."
As if the pair of home runs weren't enough, Betts also earned himself an outfield assist when he was able to pick off Evan Longoria at second base after Logan Forsythe lined out on a failed double-steal attempt. The out ended up looming large for starter Rick Porcello, who went on to pitch seven scoreless and earn the win for his team.
So although Betts may not be up to par on his Red Sox history, it's easy to forgive him for it as he continues to be a human highlight reel for the team this season. Besides, there is at least one other thing he knows about the 1975 team other than Fisk's home run.
Their uniform style -- which the Red Sox embraced with throwbacks of their own Tuesday night -- was on point.
"I love them," Betts said. "I think we should play in them every game."
