Mookie Betts blasts three home runs in a single game … again

Warning: Do not adjust your webpage. We promise this isn’t a recycled article from May 31. For the second time this season, Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts blasted three home runs in a single game.

This time around, Betts did his damage against Zack Greinke and the Arizona Diamondbacks. He wasted no time getting to work. In the bottom of the first inning, Betts smacked the first of his three long balls. This one was a two-run shot off an 88 mph two-seam fastball off Greinke.

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An inning later, he tagged Grienke again. This time, Betts pounced on a slider from the righty, hitting a three-run home run out to left field. Greinke would only last three more batters before being chased from the game. He allowed nine earned runs on 10 hits over just 1 2/3 innings.

With Greinke out of the game, Betts continued to rake. In the fourth inning, he slapped a single against Dominic Leone. The D-Backs then turned to Adam Loewen to pitch the fifth.

With Loewen on the mound, Betts clobbered another three-run homer, giving him three home runs on the day. By the end of the fifth inning, Betts was 4-for-4, with four runs scored and eight RBI.

Betts would get two more opportunities to go for the elusive four home run game, but couldn’t come through. He flew out to right field to end the sixth, and grounded out to third to end the eighth. With the score 16-2, the Red Sox had no need to come to the plate in the bottom of the ninth. Betts would finish the contest 4-for-6, with four runs scored and eight RBI.

While Betts failed to pick up his historic fourth home run, he still joined a pretty elite group. With the performance, Betts became the 21st player to hit three home runs in a single game twice in the same season, according to Matt Snyder of CBSSports.com.

Mookie Betts celebrates after blasting three home runs in one game. (Getty Images/Jim Rogash)

Betts joins a group that includes Ted Williams, Willie Stargell, Barry Bonds and Albert Pujols, among others. Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa remains the only player in history to accomplish the feat three times in a single season. If Betts can do it one more time before the regular season ends, he’ll match Sosa.

For now, though, he’ll have to settle for a tie with 20 other players for second. Given the quality of those guys, we’re guessing Betts is just fine with that.

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