BOSTON — Mookie Betts’ night came to a screeching halt. It could’ve been worse.
Betts, who homered in the first inning of the Red Sox’s 13-10 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park, exited Friday’s game before the start of the third inning after slamming face-first into the outfield wall while chasing a fly ball in the second inning. The 22-year-old suffered a lower back sprain, according to the Sox, but X-rays performed at the ballpark were negative and Betts passed his concussion tests.
“Obviously, the impact of the wall, and then also when he landed, there was a little bit of a twisting effect to where he’s got a sprain to the back,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said after Friday’s loss, in which Boston blew a seven-run lead. “X-rays were negative. He’s a little sore right now.”
Betts’ second-inning collision was scary, as he went down like a ton of bricks. The second-year outfielder returned to his feet rather quickly, however, and even appeared to smile as Farrell and the team’s trainer checked on him in center field. Betts indicated he was OK and initially stayed in the game.
“He took quite an impact, obviously,” Farrell said. “But the facial abrasions, those are very minor.”
Betts was in the on-deck circle when Pablo Sandoval popped out to end the second inning, but he started to tighten up with each stride he took, according to Farrell. Thus, the decision was made to remove Betts, who suffered a cut under his lip in addition to the back injury.
Betts isn’t in the clear. The Red Sox certainly will check on him Saturday morning, as it’s still possible he could miss a game or more if the soreness doesn’t subside. The collision looked awful, though, so it’s encouraging to hear he didn’t suffer a concussion or any structural damage anywhere in his body.
Thumbnail photo via Gregory Fisher/USA TODAY Sports Images
