Benintendi bounces back with big game

BOSTON — Andrew Benintendi was in a decidedly better mood Wednesday afternoon.

The previous evening saw the Red Sox outfielder ejected for the first time in his career. Benintendi followed up with his second career game of three extra-base hits, the catalyst in a 4-3 walkoff win over the Rangers.

“I don’t think there’s any correlation there,” said a grinning Benintendi. “If there is I’m going to have to get tossed more. That was a [...]

BOSTON — Andrew Benintendi was in a decidedly better mood Wednesday afternoon.

The previous evening saw the Red Sox outfielder ejected for the first time in his career. Benintendi followed up with his second career game of three extra-base hits, the catalyst in a 4-3 walkoff win over the Rangers.

“I don’t think there’s any correlation there,” said a grinning Benintendi. “If there is I’m going to have to get tossed more. That was a good win.”

Benintendi required just six pitches to slice a double down the line in left, whack a triple off the wall in center and slash another double off the Green Monster in left-center. His smooth left-handed swing appears back in fine working order since being dropped out of the leadoff spot and back into the second spot in the batting order.

“We had a lot of conversations and I asked him to do whatever he wanted in the leadoff spot,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “It just seemed that he wasn’t comfortable.”

Benintendi was just 3-for-37 leading off games this season. He totaled three singles, five walks and 15 strikeouts in a brainstorm gone awry, with Cora hoping to provide Mookie Betts with more run-producing chances. Benintendi slashed .318/.388/.545 in 11 games since the change was made on May 31, with seven of his 14 hits going for extra bases.

“I just think I was trying to do too much,” Benintendi said. “I was swinging at bad pitches, not staying in my zone — it was a combination of things.”

Benintendi’s first at-bat that night at Yankee Stadium was against J.A. Happ. He grinded through 11 pitches against the southpaw before drawing a walk, one of two he collected in a 4-1 defeat. Benintendi has reached base safely in each of his last 13 games and hit in nine of his last 11.

“I was like, ‘Okay, I get it,’” Cora said. “‘Let’s roll like this.’ Mookie is getting at-bats with men on. As long as Jackie (Bradley Jr.), Christian (Vazquez) and those guys get on, he’s going to get his.”

Benintendi’s newfound comfort is apparent in his use of the opposite field. His two-run homer on Monday against Mike Minor was a towering drive that settled into the first row on the Monster Seats in deep left-center. It was just the second round-tripper allowed by Minor in a left-left matchup this season.

“We need him to start driving the ball,” Cora said. “It’s not pull side. It’s not homers. He can hit 40 doubles, 45 doubles and we’ll take that. He’s a complete hitter.”

Benintendi was a key cog in the American League’s premier offense last season. He slashed .290/.366/.465 with 41 doubles and a second straight season of at least 20 stolen bases. Those numbers had dipped to .257/.357/.416 in 2019, with Benintendi held hitless in four of his last six games in May.

“You don’t even really realize it until you’re 20, 25 games in,” Benintendi said. “Your swing kind of adapts with how you’re feeling. It’s good to get down there and watch video and talk to other players.”

Benintendi battered Texas to the tune of a double and two home runs on July 4, 2017. He was hitting sixth on that night at Globe Life Park in Arlington, as Boston powered its way to an 11-4 victory. Betts went 0-for-6 out of the leadoff spot and is slashing just .163/.328/.347 in 13 games since being returned to the top of the order.

“Now the other guy isn’t getting on base — it’s give and take,” Cora said. “We’re going to roll with this the rest of the season.”

bkoch@providencejournal.com

On Twitter: @BillKoch25