Mookie Betts makes pitcher look foolish with unbelievable steals
There’s very little that Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts can’t do.
The 25-year-old currently leads the American League in batting average (.364), runs scored (46) and OPS (1.1172). In addition to be being a solid defender, he also happens to have great speed, as his 11 stolen bases are second in the AL.
Betts showed off his speed on Thursday against the Orioles. He recorded three steals (as well as three base hits), and in the process, made Baltimore starter Kevin Gausman look absolutely foolish.
His first steal came in the bottom of the first inning, following a lead-off single. Betts got such an incredible jump off first that he was a good portion of the way to second base by the time Gausman started his delivery.
There was no throw from the catcher to try and catch him, and Betts didn’t even have to slide into second.
“(Gausman) was not even paying attention,” one of the Red Sox broadcasters said.
Betts had two more steals in the game, and both of them came in the bottom of the fifth off Gausman.
First, following Betts’ third single of the night, he got another great jump off first base and was able to steal second easily. This time, Gausman threw the ball to first base instead of the plate in an attempt to pick Betts off, but it was to no avail, as Betts slid into second while the first baseman watched helplessly with the ball in his hand.
Later on in that same inning, Betts did it again, this time as part of a double-steal.
The runners on first and second took off, and Gausman threw the ball to the plate. Both runners had timed their jumps so well that the catcher didn’t even bother throwing to either base.
At that point, the Red Sox had five steals in the game, and three of them came courtesy of Betts.
After the game, Betts noted that it was all too easy for the Red Sox baserunners to time Gausman’s delivery, and that’s why they were able to get such great jumps.
“I think it’s maybe something I need to take a look at, see if I’m doing a little every pitch,” Gausman, who gave up six runs in four-and-two-thirds innings, said of his approach with runners on base.
“That might have been a difference between me giving up four runs or five runs rather than six. Those are the things that might allow me to go out for the sixth inning again and save the bullpen. So, there’s a lot of variables that go with me messing that up,” he added, according to MLB.com.
The Red Sox ended up defeating the Orioles 6-2.
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