NEW YORK - Without looking at the statistics, Mookie Betts' name likely wouldn't come to mind as having the second-most homers on the Red Sox active roster.

But Betts clubbed his 17th and 18th home runs of the season on Wednesday night. The first tied the game against one of the game's toughest relievers in the game and the second gave the Red Sox insurance en route to an extra-innings victory in New York.

Betts isn't a prototypical power hitter, but with Hanley Ramirez (19) gone for season, Betts' 18 home runs are second on the team only to David Ortiz (36).

"It's hard to believe that that 160 pounds can generate that type of batspeed and that torque on a baseball but he does and there's some strength in there, there's a balanced swing and he's not missing his pitch right now," interim manager Torey Lovullo said after the game.

Betts also homered on Tuesday night in New York and has eight extra-base hits in his last five games.

In 26 games in September, he hit .389 with a .446 OPB, .639 slugging and a team-leading 1.085 OPS. Of his 42 hits last month, 17 were for extra bases, including five homers.

Meanwhile, Betts has a team-leading 5.9 WAR (wins above replacement) this season.

While the second homer padded Boston's lead in the 11th against the Yankees, Betts was prouder of the game-tying home run because it came off of All-Star reliever Dellin Betances.



"Hard to believe, I know, he seems like he's a Red Sox killer. He's probably an American League killer," Lovullo said of Betances. "We all know that. He's got that great reputation. He hit a 2-0 fastball a long way. That's one of the best balls I've seen hit since I've known him. Give him credit for getting to that count, that advantage count, give him credit for not missing his pitch."

Betts smacked a 2-0, 96 mph fastball from Betances over the center field wall.

"Nothing against him but it's just like the second time I've ever put it in play against him so I think that was what I was happy about," Betts said.

Last year, Betts posted five home runs in 52 games. In five minor league seasons, Betts never hit more than 15 homers, which he did in 2013 when splitting time between Greenville and Salem.

He credits his added muscle to work with strength and conditioning coach Pat Sandora.

"I thought last year toward the end I was pretty strong," he said. "This year would have been kind of a better test to see. I think what I did in the offseason and through the season with Pat has kept me mobile and not tired and keep my strength. I think I've done a pretty good job with that."

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