BOSTON -- Even though Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts is second on the team in home runs, he promises he's not a home-run hitter.
Betts sent a rocket to left in the seventh inning for a go-ahead blast in a 2-1 win over the Mariners in the rubber game on Sunday at Fenway Park.
"It is just going over the fence right now," Betts said. "I promise you, I'm not a home-run hitter. It is weird. I just want to make solid contact and it will just go wherever it is meant to."
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The homer was all David Price needed in one of his strongest outings of the season. The Red Sox ace logged eight innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts for his eighth win.
Betts' 15th homer of the year moved him only three behind Red Sox leader David Ortiz.
"We just wanted to manufacture some runs. Go first to third, especially right now when we are having trouble scoring some," Betts said.
Ortiz, who went 1-for-3 with an intentional walk and a stolen base that caused a frenzy both in the dugout and in the stands, congratulated Betts on his home run.
"We needed it," Ortiz said. "Start looking at the scoreboard for a minute and you want to win so you can keep up."
Betts finished 3-for-5 and has reached base safely in each of his last 20 games, including hits in 18 of those contests. Much of Betts' offensive success has come at home, where he has reached base in each of his 24 starts at Fenway since April 30, including 12 multi-hit games.