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Boston Red Sox: Mookie Betts’ 3-HR night latest highlight for offense

By Tim Haberin |
May 31, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Boston Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts (50) celebrates with catcher Christian Vazquez (7) after his three run home run in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
May 31, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Boston Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts (50) celebrates with catcher Christian Vazquez (7) after his three run home run in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Mookie Betts hit three home runs on Tuesday night, but it was just the latest in a season of impressive displays for the Boston Red Sox offense.

For most teams, a player hitting three home runs in a game is a rare accomplishment, one worth singling out at the end of the season. For the 2016 Boston Red Sox, it’s just another day at the ballpark.

Right fielder Mookie Betts went 3-for-5 last night with a trio of homers and five RBI as the Red Sox topped the Orioles 6-2. The 23-year-old became the 22nd player in franchise history to club three long balls in a game, and the first since Will Middlebrooks in 2013. Not bad for a leadoff hitter.

Overall, the feat has been done 27 times by a Red Sox player, with Ted Williams (3), Jim Rice (2), Mo Vaughn (2) and Nomar Garciaparra (2) each pulling it off on multiple occasions.

Only two months into the current season, these Red Sox are no strangers to eye-catching offensive achievements. Center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. recently snapped a 29-game hitting streak, the longest since Denard Span also hit safely in 29 consecutive games for the Nationals in 2013. Bradley wasn’t just a singles hitter during his streak either: from April 24 to May 25 he slashed .415/.488/.783 with eight homers and 30 RBI.

After Bradley’s streak finally ended, shortstop Xander Bogaerts was ready to take the spotlight with one of his own. Right now he’s not very far from where his teammate left off, having collected a hit in 24 consecutive games. Since May 6 he is slashing .393/.430/.607 with five home runs and 17 RBI. The 23-year-old Bogaerts currently leads MLB with 76 base hits on the year.

And of course, one has to mention David Ortiz, who has been nothing short of a one-man wrecking crew during his final season. Big Papi looks poised to put together one of the best years of his career at age 40, prompting many to publically wonder whether he should retire at all. He has clubbed 14 homers and driven in an MLB-leading 47 runs to go along with a brawny .335/.416/.716 slash line.

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Ortiz also leads both leagues in slugging percentage, OPS (1.132), OPS+ (194) and total bases (126). Perhaps most impressive are the 23 doubles (also an MLB-high mark). At this pace he would finish the year with 72; his career high is 52 in 2007.

It’s easy to look at the stats and see that the Red Sox have clearly been the most productive offense thus far in 2016. They have scored 308 runs, 16 more than the St. Louis Cardinals. They’re leading all MLB clubs in batting average (.294), OBP (.358), SLG (.489) and OPS (.848) by comfortable margins.

However, the numbers can also obscure the fact that the individual members of this lineup are doing some pretty special things on a nightly basis. Whether it’s Bradley and Bogaerts’ hitting streaks, Ortiz’s ageless slugging ability or Betts finding his power stroke, this is a dangerous group that can hurt you in countless ways.

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With a relatively underwhelming pitching staff to this point (4.13 ERA, 18th in MLB), the Red Sox have needed their bats to pick up the slack. They’ve done that and then some, vaulting Boston to a 32-20 record and a three-game cushion in the AL East. If they keep hitting like this, it’s hard not to wonder if the road to the World Series in the American League is going to run through Fenway Park.

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