Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

Relive the magical night that Bengie Molina hit for the cycle

Entering his final at-bat of the game on July 16, 2010, against the Red Sox, Bengie Molina was already off to a career night. The Rangers catcher, who celebrates his 43rd birthday today, had a second-inning single, an opposite-field double off J.D. Drew's glove and a long grand slam to center field. He had one run, three hits, four RBIs, and seven total bases. You can recap all the magic right here.
Now, the 35-year-old, playing in what would be his final Major League season, had a chance at history. An opportunity for greatness. With a triple, he could become the the fifth Ranger to hit for the cycle and the 15th catcher in baseball history. He only had five three-baggers in his career up to that point and, let's just say, was not the most nimble of baserunners in the league.
But on a 2-1 count and a towering drive into the Fenway Park triangle, it happened:

Bengie, the Texas dugout and the broadcast were ecstatic. After the game, he relayed his thoughts on the moment to MLB.com
"You have it in your head, but you're not thinking about hitting a triple ... just hit the ball hard," Molina said. "But when he dropped the ball, that's when you're thinking, 'Got to go, got to go.'"
And for his career as a whole: 
"This means a lot. I'm not a stats guy; everybody who knows me knows that. That's an individual thing, but being one of the slowest guys in the world, and being criticized for it all my career, to be able to do something like that really makes me feel good."
Molina also became the first catcher to ever hit a grand slam as part of a cycle -- enshrining the play in Cooperstown for all eternity.

BarberJordan
beephero
AP_702417634020
NYC