Mookie (the) Best?

In a season full of stellar performances, Mookie Betts topped himself on Thursday. The dynamic Red Sox lead off batter hit for the cycle -- capping it with a 9th inning homer. But, a great night for Betts came with a less than satisfying Red Sox result -- they lost 8 - 5 to the Blue Jays in Rogers Centre.
Betts is the 21st Red Sox player with a single, double, triple and homer in the same game -- and the first since Brock Holt in 2015.
It's been an MVP caliber season for the fourth year player -- whose .;347 average leads the league, as does his 1.103 OPS. Mix in terrific defense and 22 stolen bases and you have the credentials to keep him in the conversation along with teammate JD Martinez on the team with the best record in baseball.
If you think of a leadoff hitter as the "igniter," Betts has been Boston's spark ever since game one.
(My image of Betts is from the Red Sox/Twins exhibition on March 7th at Fort Myers.)

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