Mookie Betts is no David Ortiz (yet), but he did channel his inner Big Papi against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday.
The Boston Red Sox outfielder hit a leadoff, opposite-field homer in his team’s 9-1 victory at Fenway Park. The blast was impressive, no doubt, but was even more noteworthy for how eerily similar it was to David Ortiz’s famous grand slam in Game 2 of the 2013 American League Championship Series.
Betts’ homer sailed into the Red Sox bullpen and took Angels right fielder Michael Hermosillo along with it. It also was punctuated by a shameless celebration from the same police officer who famously reacted to Ortiz’s legendary slam against the Detroit Tigers.
Here’s Betts’ 20th homer of the season:
Baseball's Betts player is at it again. pic.twitter.com/nT7yplkAN5
— NESN (@NESN) June 26, 2018
And here’s Ortiz’s four-run dinger, which probably still is fresh in many Red Sox fans’ minds:
Betts’ home run obviously lacked the drama that surrounded Ortiz’s, but the resemblance is uncanny.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the two:
"Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it." – baseball proverb.https://t.co/628lmnb9PS pic.twitter.com/lsiizLteJ1
— Cut4 (@Cut4) June 27, 2018
You have to respect Hermosillo and Torii Hunter for their all-out efforts, but when will guys learn that leaping into the Fenway bullpen really isn’t worth it?
The win moved Boston to 4-0 against the Angels this season. The two teams will meet Wednesday night for the second leg of their three-game set.
