Betts rescues Sox by stealing homer in 2nd; Reddick can't do same in 7th for Astros

There were two huge plays in right field in Sunday’s Game 3 of the ALDS between the Red Sox and Houston Astros.

One was made, one wasn’t.

“That,’’ concluded Mookie Betts -- who, for the record, made his -- “is huge.’’

Josh Reddick, by contrast, didn’t make his. And that, too, proved huge.

A swing of six runs resulted. And as a result, the Red Sox managed to extend the series.

In the bottom of the second, the Sox were already down 3-0 with two Houston runners on when Reddick lofted a pitch from Joe Kelly and drove it deep right. Betts sprinted to the spot, stuck his glove on top of the low fence, and made a basket catch of what was clearly going to a three-run homer that would have given the Astros a 6-0 lead -- and likely, the series.

“I saw it had a lot of air under it,’’ said Betts after the Sox had walloped the Astros, 10-3, “so I figured it was going to stay in the park. But it just kept going (and) going. Fortunately, I was able to run under it and the fan didn’t interfere with it.’’

“He’s a big-time playmaker,’’ said Jackie Bradley Jr. of Betts and his catch. “We were able to piggyback off that.’’

Of course, Bradley has made more than his share of highlight grabs next door in center. He had little doubt when the ball came off the bat that Betts could -- and would -- make the play.

“I knew it was hit very well, but it’s a very spacious right field,’’ Bradley said. “I could tell by his steps and how he was approaching the ball that he was going to be able to make a play. Obviously, if he wasn’t there, it was going to be over (the wall).’’

Even in the Astros dugout, Houston manager A.J. Hinch detected a swing with that catch, though it wasn't quite as apparent until later.

“That was a huge momentum shift that we later felt,’’ said Hinch. “I don’t know that we necessarily felt it right there. We felt we were in a good spot. It was 3-0 at the time; going to 6-0, there would have really put them in a hole. I couldn’t tell if he had to reach into the stands or not until the replay, and it was a bigger play later than it necessarily felt at the time.’’

Betts bought the Sox more time, which they used wisely in the second and third, taking their first lead of the series.

In the seventh, though, came the flip side. The Sox were intent on adding to their lead, and two-run double from Hanley Ramirez and an opposite-field single by Rafael Devers pushed them to 7-3 lead.

Then came the flip side to Betts’s brilliant play, the one that wasn’t made.

With two on, Bradley hit a ball just beyond the foul pole. Reddick raced over, had the ball land in – or was it off? – his glove. It caromed into the stands for a three-run homer.

“Reddick’s right at the wall,’’ said Hinch, “catching it right on that curve and the ball kicks into the stands.

"There (are) such small margins in these games and huge moments throughout the entire day. That was one of them, even though it didn’t (seem) like that necessarily in the second inning.’’

There was a lot of talk about the momentum the Red Sox may have seized by erupting offensively, scoring as many runs in Sunday’s seventh inning alone than they had in the first 18 innings of the series.

But there was also defensive momentum, and the Sox capitalized on that, too.

“An extra out here or there,’’ said Betts, “can change a game. We had a couple things go our way. We have a great defensive team, and we made the plays today. It was one of those situations where we did a little better today.’’

Which meant a lot.