A closer look at some memorable Red Sox catches

Andrew Benintendi’s magnificent catch Monday night left some fans wondering if it was the greatest catch by a member of the Red Sox. While the play was certainly impressive, Benintendi’s teammates in the outfield, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts have also made some spectacular plays in their young careers.

Here’s a look at some of the other memorable catches from Red Sox history, in no particular order.

Carl Yastrzemski, April 14, 1967

The Red Sox were leading the Yankees, 3-0 in the top of the ninth inning. Billy Rohr, just 21, was pitching against Whitey Ford and had taken a no-hitter into the final frame at Yankee Stadium.

Tom Tresh led off the inning with a deep drive to left field, but Red Sox Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski ran straight back to the fence to make a diving catch and temporarily preserve the no-hitter. After Joe Pepitone flied out for the second out, Elston Howard blooped a single to right for the Yankees’ only hit of the day.

Mookie Betts, Sept. 25, 2015

Trying to pick just one catch from Betts is nearly impossible. There was of course the play he made at the home opener in 2015 against Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals, robbing him of a home run in the top of the first inning. That was all part of an impressive day for Betts, who went 2 for 4 with four RBIs and two steals.

But his catch in September against the Orioles was even better. Chris Davis belted a ball to deep center field that appeared to be headed for the Red Sox bullpen, but Betts was able to track it down and make a leaping grab to end the game, all while managing to not fall in the Red Sox bullpen.

Jackie Bradley Jr., July 9, 2014

Much like Betts, Bradley also has a plethora of defensive highlights to choose from. But it’s his diving grab in center field against Tyler Flowers of the Chicago White Sox that seems to stand out the most. With a runner on second, Flowers roped a line drive that looked like it would drive in the runner on second base, but Bradley went full stride and extended to make the catch.

Dwight Evans, Oct. 21, 1975

Everyone knows about Carlton Fisk’s home run in the bottom of the 12th inning to force Game 7 of the 1975 World Series.

But the game, and the series itself, could have been over if not for a tremendous play by Dwight Evans in the top of the 11th.

With the score tied, and Ken Griffey on first base, Cincinnati’s Joe Morgan hit a deep drive to right field that Evans was able to snare with a one-handed leaping grab. Dewey then used his cannon of an arm to get the ball back infield.

The ball was off the mark, but Yaz, playing first, came off the bag to make the catch, and tossed the ball to Rick Burleson, who came over from second to cover first and double up Griffey.

Tom Brunansky, Oct. 3, 1990

Tom Brunansky isn’t considered one of the all-time great Red Sox defensive outfielders, but he helped deliver a pennant in 1990.

The Red Sox led the Chicago White Sox, 3-1, in the final game of the regular season, but had not wrapped up the AL East yet. In the ninth inning with two outs, Chicago had two baserunners on, and Ozzie Guillen at the plate.

Guillen lined a Jeff Reardon pitch to the right field corner, but Brunansky was able to make a sliding catch to end the game, and pandemonium ensued at Fenway.

Coco Crisp, Oct. 21, 2007

Crisp had lost playing time to rookie Jacoby Ellsbury as the Red Sox marched to the 2007 World Series, but he found himself manning center field in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Indians.

The Red Sox led comfortably, 11-2 with just one out separating them from another trip to the World Series when Casey Blake hit a deep drive to the triangle at Fenway, but Crisp was able to track it down and make a running catch before crashing in to the bullpen wall.