Tampa Bay Rays Star Matches Mookie Betts and 2 Other Players’ Stats Combined in Nearly 100 Lesser Games

If you missed the opening game of the American League Division Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox, chances are you will find Randy Arozarena feature prominently in the highlight reel.

The 26-year-old produced an incredible display on the diamond, leading the Rays to an emphatic Game 1 victory. He scored three runs, which included a massive home run. While the Rays looked solid overall, Arozarena recorded an impressive statistic that showed his hitting prowess in the postseason.

Randy Arozarena smashes 11th career postseason home run in just 25 games

The Cuban was at it from the word go, recording a stunning triple in the bottom of the first inning to give the Rays a 1-0 lead. Although he lost his helmet at the third base, he capitalized on a fumble from Enrique Hernandez to score.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Arozarena showed why he thrives in the postseason. The 2020 American League Championship Series MVP smashed a 95mph pitch from Nick Pivetta into the stands to record a solo home run. This was his 11th run in his postseason career, which is just 25 games old.

Although he made his MLB debut in 2019, Arozarena’s hitting has already set the stats sheet alight. In fact, he scored as many postseason home runs alone as LA Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, Atlanta Braves’ Freddie Freeman, and San Francisco Giants’ Buster Posey combined. And the trio competed in a total of 119 games.

Betts scored three home runs in 40 postseason games, while Freeman scored four in 26. Posey, who impressed in this year’s regular-season for the Giants, scored four in 53 career postseason games.

Considering he recorded just two at-bats, many would believe Arozarena’s performance yesterday was nothing short of spectacular. Along with three runs, the 26-year-old also tallied an RBI and an unbelievable stolen base.

The Rays clinched Game 1 with a dominant 5-0 victory

While the hitters did their bit, the Rays’ pitchers did equally well, if not better. Shane McClanahan was the pick of their four pitchers, scoring three strikeouts in five innings.

Their impressive shutout indicated the power the AL East champions possess, both on the plate and the pitcher’s mound. They will look to continue their momentum later today in Game 2, which will take place in the Tropicana Field.

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