Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts throws out runner at third with 305-foot strike from outfield corner
The Boston Red Sox will not have a chance to defend their World Series title this postseason. Despite missing the playoffs, Mookie Betts is still playing hard — and firing darts from the outfield.
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Avisail Garcia ripped an extra-base hit into the right-field corner in the bottom of the sixth to drive in a run. Garcia tried to stretch a double into a triple, and that's when Betts unleashed his arm.
The 2018 AL MVP dug the ball out from the corner with his bare hand and fired a 305-foot strike to Rafael Devers at third base, who smoothly slapped the tag on Garcia for the out. It was the fourth-longest outfield assist tracked by Statcast (since 2015), according to MLB.com's Andrew Simon.
“Yeah, I didn’t know I could do that,” Betts told reporters after the game. “It’s fun to kind of do stuff that you didn’t know you could do.”
Boston lost 7-4, and the Rays currently hold a 0.5-game lead for the second AL Wild Card spot.
Speaking of a former MVP making a ridiculous throw from right field, Bryce Harper was not to be outdone.
More Bryce: Harper fires insane 310-foot throw from right field to third base for out vs. Nationals
Washington Nationals star Juan Soto was running with a full head of steam on a hit-and-run with Howie Kendrick at the dish. Harper fielded the ball somewhat flat-footed, which prompted Soto to test his arm. That proved to be unwise.
Harper delivered a 92.2-mph, one-hop strike to the plate to nab Soto. The Phillies are one game away from being eliminated in the NL Wild Card race.