Watch Xander Bogaerts’s game-winning hit against MLB’s strangest pitcher
Marlins reliever Carter Capps throws a 99-mph jigsaw puzzle. His idiosyncratic, crow-hop delivery is MLB’s latest novelty item — and barely within its rules.
Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts was undaunted. On Tuesday night, he sent a line-drive single into left-center field, which scored three runs in the seventh inning. The Sox took and held a 4-3 lead.
[fragment number=0]
The 22-year-old admitted he benefited from being ahead in the count, which gave him the time to adjust to Capps.
“I’ve seen him on TV a few times pitching against against other teams,’’ Bogaerts told NESN.com. “You don’t know what to expect until you’re up there hitting. I kind of was tracking the first pitches. I’m lucky enough he threw balls, so I could see them pretty good, and then I put a pretty good swing on the last one.’’
While the legality of the pitching motion has been questioned, MLB deemed it legal but requested he not jump so high off the rubber. Bogaerts called Capps’ delivery “funky.’’ Sox manager John Farrell called it “unorthodox.’’ But its undeniable result has been success: Capps has a 1.54 ERA and 0.86 WHIP this season.
The timely hit not only made the difference in the game, but also bolstered Bogaerts’ case in MLB’s Final Vote competition for the final spot on the American’s League All-Star team.
[fragment number=1]
History of great Red Sox rookies
[bdc-gallery id=”463597″]
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com