McAdam: Andrew Benintendi goes for it in game-saving grab

HOUSTON - Even before the madness that was Game 4 of the ALCS began, Alex Cora outlined his philosophy.

"We're all in,'' noted Cora, hours before the first pitch.

Cora was referring to his approach to his pitching staff, intimating that the Red Sox were going to do everything they could to get themselves a win and take a commanding 3-1 lead in their series with the Houston Astros.

Something about those words must have stuck with left fielder Andrew Benintendi, because in the ninth inning, with his team precariously holding onto a two-run lead and the bases loaded, Benintendi committed himself fully.

Embattled closer Craig Kimbrel had already walked the bases loaded and had no margin for error as he faced the Astros' hottest hitter, Alex Bregman.

Bregman shot a flare into left field, and Benintendi, who had pulled around a bit to center, had a long way to go. As he sprinted for the sinking liner, he made the decision to go for the catch.

Snare it and he would be the hero.

Miss it? With two outs and the baserunners off as soon as the ball was hit, it could have rolled past him, clearing the bases and resulting in a Houston win.

All or nothing. All in, as the manager vowed.

"If he doesn't make that play right there,'' noted reliever Ryan Brasier, "we probably lose the game. It would have taken a while for Jackie (Bradley) center field to get over there.''

"I thought I got a good jump on it,'' recalled Benintendi. "It wasn't hit that hard. I don't know...I thought I could catch it and timed it up well. At that point, it was either do or die, so, glad I caught it.''

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Benintendi is far from an emotional sort. Teammate Brock Holt joked in the interview room on Monday that he was accompanying the outfielder to the podium to provide emotional support for Benintendi, who is often reserved. But after diving face-first and picking up the sinking liner no more than an inch or so above the turf, Benintendi scrambled to his feet and roared in celebration, then positioned himself to chest-bump any teammate who happened by.

"Usually, I don't show too much excitement,'' he said a bit sheepishly, "but it tough to keep that one in.''

It was a night of high drama in the Minute Maid Park outfield.  It began with a catch that wasn't made (by Mookie Betts), but was ruled an out anyway (thanks to a call of fan interference). It continued with a laser-like throw by Betts in the bottom of the eight, cutting down Tony Kemp attempting to stretch a single into a double in the bottom of the eight and picked up again with a terrific sprawling catch by Houston right fielder Josh Reddick in the top of the ninth off Betts.

None, however, had the drama -- or the stakes -- of the catch by Benintendi.

"The way that game was going,'' said Alex Cora, "after Josh made the play in right field, I knew something interesting was going to happen in that inning.''

Cora couldn't have more dead-on with his prediction. And Benintendi's instincts helped save the day -- and make the catch. He felt he could pick the ball off and was determined to take the chance.

"That's why I dove,'' he said. "I wouldn't have dove if I knew there was any chance that it would have bounced. But it was close. I haven't seen a replay, but I thought I had a pretty good jump and timed it pretty well.''

Had Benintendi opted for a more conservative approach, it's likely two runs would have scored and the game would have been tied. So Benintendi decided to take the chance.

"If you need to think about (whether to go for it or not), it's already too late,'' said. "I was committed to diving and I think regardless, the game would have been over, whether I caught it or missed it.''

All or nothing, then. All in, just like his manager proclaimed.