Mookie! and the 1975 Red Sox

The Sox fell from first place to last place in a little over a week, with a 2-7 record over the stretch from April 26 to May 4.

And last night, with the team celebrating the 40th anniversary of the 1975 A. L. champion Red Sox, they were being no-hit by Tampa Bay's Drew Smyly through five innings.  (Rick Porcello had held the  Rays scoreless, too.)

Leading off the bottom of the sixth, Mookie Betts put an end to that. Home run, left field.  He'd actually struck the game-winning hit -- though, of course, no one could know that yet.

Mookie had already earned an outfield assist in the top of the fifth. With runners on first and second and nobody out, the Rays were threatening to score first. But Mookie caught a fly ball to center and fired back to Bogaerts at second base to trap Longoria off the bag, for a double play.  Good stretch and catch by Bogaerts. It survived a replay challenge.

Betts led off the eighth, too. Another home run.  Insurance.  Sox won, 2-0.