McAdam: Finally, Mookie Betts makes an impact

It's almost shocking, nearly one-eighth of the way through the season, how little Mookie Betts has contributed to the Red Sox.

The same player who captured the 2018 AL MVP and earned his way into the conversation about the game's best player, had contributed little to the Red Sox ignominious start.

In the field, he's had a few misplays, typified by an instance in Oakland in the second week of the season that saw a ball drop between him and teammate Jackie Bradley Jr. At least twice, he's been slow to run to first on balls he thought were going foul -- only to have them remain fair.

And in the batter's box, Betts has been strangely silent. Whether hitting first or second, Betts has been alternately passive or over-eager. Following a three-hit day on Opening Day, he had had exactly one game in which he collected more than one hit. Before Friday night, he had been mired in a 3-for-32 funk with just one extra-base in the previous 10 games.

Maybe, just maybe, things began to turnaround for him in the Red Sox' 6-4 win over the first-place Tampa Bay Rays Friday.

Betts doubled and scored in the sixth, ending an 0-for-12 skid. Then, leading off the eighth in a 4-4 game, he drilled a pitch from Rays reliever Diego Castillo over the fence in straight-away center for his fourth homer.

https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1119418695107973121

As Betts rounded the first base bag, he couldn't restrain himself, showing an uncharacteristic bit of emotion with a triple fist bump in celebration.

It may have been out of relief as much as anything. Betts had entered the night with a .200 batting average and he unquestionably was aware of his shortcomings.

"When you look around in big league stadiums,'' Alex Cora told reporters, "you look everywhere and there's your average. Back in the day, you didn't have that. You only knew it because of the newspaper; now it's all over the place.  Although you don't want to look, it's there for you. It's not cool when you're struggling. It's hard to smile when you're struggling.

"One thing's for sure -- he prepares. He goes out there and gives 100 percent, regardless of the results. Sometimes, he gets down because he knows what he can do. But just like the team, it's a long season.''

Betts can be tough on himself and the team's abysmal start, coupled with his own quiet start with the bat, was no doubt weighing on him. Betts showed up early at Tropicana Field Friday for some extended early batting practice, determined to work his way out of his April funk.

"It's great for him that he contributed offensively,'' said Cora. "But we put together good at-bats all over the place today. Everybody has to do their part.''

In theory, that's certainly true. But Betts, as the team's best overall player, knows what's expected of him and every day that he doesn't help the slumping Sox execute a turnaround undoubtedly weight on him.

Whatever he tried with his early work, it delivered far better results.

"I've been working a lot,'' Betts said after the game. "I don't have much to show for it, but I'm doing what I can to help the team win.''

Other members of the lineup have produced with far more consistency. J.D. Martinez has hit safely in every game but one and has the team's best OPS. Mitch Moreland has cranked six homers, the last of which came immediately after the one Betts hit to start the eighth. Xander Bogaerts has been his consistent self.

But Betts has the ability to jump-start the team offensively at the top of the order and hasn't. The lineup has a different look to it when he's driving hard-hit balls from either the first or second spot in the order.

He wasn't just the league's most valuable player a year ago; he's also their most important, and it's not much of a stretch to suggest that as Betts goes, so go the Red Sox.

Until Friday night, he hasn't gone and neither have they. With the extra work Friday and the results Friday night, it's possible that's starting to change.

"Tonight was a good night,'' said Betts, confining his satisfaction to the present.

Could this be the start of something? Could Betts have begun to turn around his -- and by extension, his team's -- season?

"We're about to see,'' said Cora with a smile. "We're getting close. We're getting close.''