ARLINGTON, Texas — Lost in the shuffle of Thursday’s 11-5 drubbing against the Rangers was some leadership from Mookie Betts.


 


The 25-year-old tops several hitting categories through the first 31 games, but his influence in the dugout and in the clubhouse could also pay future dividends.


 


Betts ran hard on a nubber up the first-base line in the sixth inning, almost beating out an infield single in what was a 10- [...]

Bill Koch

ARLINGTON, Texas — Lost in the shuffle of Thursday’s 11-5 drubbing against the Rangers was some leadership from Mookie Betts.

 

The 25-year-old tops several hitting categories through the first 31 games, but his influence in the dugout and in the clubhouse could also pay future dividends.

 

Betts ran hard on a nubber up the first-base line in the sixth inning, almost beating out an infield single in what was a 10-3 game. One at-bat later, as he scalded an RBI double to deep left in the eighth against Texas reliever Jose Leclerc.

 

“You can come back and win a game by guys not giving away at-bats and putting together some good ones,” Betts said. “That’s just my mindset. I try not to give any away.”

 

Opposing pitchers likely wish Betts would ease up on the gas from time to time. His 12th home run of the season in the third was his 69th out of the leadoff spot, tying Dom DiMaggio for the Red Sox franchise record. Betts had 24 extra-base hits, 85 total bases, an .850 slugging percentage and a 1.299 OPS going into Friday, all tops in the big leagues.

 

“Out of all the things he’s done the last few days, in a game like that, he doesn’t give that at-bat away,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “You could hear him in the dugout pulling for his teammates — ‘Hey, don’t give it away. Don’t give it away.’ That’s cool to see.”

 

Betts hammered three home runs on getaway day against the Royals, a 5-4 win in which he made more Red Sox history. Betts became the first Boston player with four, three home-run games and the youngest in baseball history to accomplish the feat. Consider that Betts was in his 534th game with the team while legends like Carl Yastrzemski (3,308 games), Ted Williams (2,292), Jim Rice (2,089) and David Ortiz (1,953) all appeared in at least three times as many.

 

“Stay positive,” Betts said. “I think I just have a new mindset of turning the page and starting each day fresh. In doing that I’m having a little success, but I have a long time to go.”

 

Cora sends message

 

Cora and the Boston bench got into a couple of verbal scraps with plate umpire Phil Cuzzi on Thursday night, and the Red Sox manager opted to send a message early on Friday.

 

Cora watched Texas starter Bartolo Colon carry a perfect game into the eighth inning on April 15 against the Astros, one aided a bit by a wide strike zone from home plate umpire Adam Hamari. It was Hamari again behind the dish for Friday night’s game at Globe Life Park.

 

“We have to get [Colon] on the plate,” Cora said. “Not only us — his strikes have to be on the plate. When he gets the one or two inches off the plate, he becomes tough.”

 

In an era where launch angle and pitching vertically have become the new trends, it’s all but inevitable to classify the 44-year-old Colon as a throwback. He works almost exclusively off the fastball, throwing it 82.3 percent of the time entering Friday. Most of those are of the two-seam variety, with Colon running the pitch back to the outside corner against right-handed hitters or slipping it through the front door against left-handed hitters.

 

“It’s not that he makes a lot of mistakes down the middle, but he works ahead a lot,” Cora said. “You’ve got to be ready to hit.”

 

Holt to begin rehab

 

Brock Holt (left hamstring strain) is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Pawtucket on Monday. Holt remains here with the Red Sox and will join the Triple-A affiliate on the off day. The PawSox are scheduled to open a three-game series at Lehigh Valley. … Eduardo Rodriguez (family medical leave) was expected to arrive in Texas on Friday night and will make his scheduled start on Saturday. Rodriguez was away from the team for the opener of the 10-game road trip. … Left-handed reliever Bobby Poyner was recalled from Pawtucket on Friday, with right-handed reliever Marcus Walden sent down to Pawtuckter. Walden turned in 3 2/3 innings of relief to finish up on Thursday, allowing an unearned run.

 

— bkoch@providencejournal.com

 

On Twitter: @BillKoch25