Two-out, two-run double in 9th seals 5-4 comeback win over Cards

For most of the season, Mookie Betts has underwhelming. He’s nowhere near matching the kind of numbers he put up a year ago, when he finished second to Mike Trout in balloting for the American League Most Valuable Player award.

Except, that is, when there are runners in scoring position. Then, Betts is again very valuable.

That was part of the motivation for John Farrell to move Betts out of the leadoff spot last week when the Red Sox were in Tampa.  Too often, Betts was coming to the plate without any baserunners, so Farrell began hitting him cleanup, third, and, for the last little while now, second.

In the ninth inning, Wednesday, Farrell and the Red Sox got exactly the scenario they wanted:  bottom of the ninth, runners at first and second, two out, and the Red Sox trailing by a run.

Up came Betts. Down went the St. Louis Cardinals.

Betts drilled a slider from Cards relievers John Brebbia hard off The Wall in left, scoring pinch-runner Chris Young with the tying run, and, just barely, Jackie Bradley Jr. with the winning run for a 5-4 walkoff win for the Red Sox.

The entire ninth inning was somewhat chaotic. The Cardinals plowed through three relievers in an attempt to get three outs, with closer Trevor Rosenthal getting the hook after a leadoff homer from Xander Bogaerts and a walk to Mitch Moreland. Then came a dispute between catcher Yadier Molina and home plate umpire Chris Segal over a timeout by Segal, eventually resulting in manager Mike Matheny’s ejection.

Through it all, Betts got his opportunity and didn’t miss. He may have been hitting just .268 overall when the fateful at-bat began, but when he was finished clearing the bases, he was hitting a far more robust .390 with runners in scoring position.

“The only thing you can point to is probably his focus in those moments,’’ said Farrell, attempting to explain the success Betts has had with runners on base. “I can’t say he’s looking for a certain pitch; he’s looking in an area. He’s maybe taking what the pitcher is giving (him), rather than try to do too much. We’ve seen a numbers of base hits up the middle, (going) the other way, with men in scoring position.

“I think it’s the focus in those moments.’’

Betts himself isn’t sure he can explain the discrepancy – why he’s been so effective with runners on second and/or third, and why he struggled in other situations.

“I have no idea,’’ said Betts. “It just seems that that’s how things are going this season. When guys are on, I seem to do better. I’m trying to do good all the time. If that’s the (result with men in scoring position), I’m happy with that.

“I can’t even explain what’s going through my head when I’m stepping in the box. I’m not exactly sure if it’s extra focus or anything. Maybe it is; I’m not even sure I can answer that.’’

The walk-off win was the ninth for the Red Sox this season and fourth in the last nine home wins, and even with Betts’ hit, the win wasn’t assured. Bradley, running with the 3-and-2 pitch from first base, was waved in by third base coach Brian Butterfield.

The relay throw from shortstop Paul DeJong beat Bradley to the plate, but Molina, attempting to block Bradley’s path, juggled, then dropped the ball as Bradley slid around him. Only then could Bradley circle back, slap home plate and make the winning run official.

“I could just see that (Molina) was getting ready for the play to happen,’’ Bradley recounted. “I’m just running and trying to find any particular space or room in order to slide, to either avoid the tag or go straight in. I pulled my hand back, hoping to avoid the tag and slide past him. I knew I didn’t tag it at first, because he was blocking the plate.’’