Dellin Betances looked solid in this appearance. During a brief mound visit, the catcher and Betances agreed on a clear approach—go high with the fastball, then follow with a slider low and away. Betances executed it perfectly. He went upstairs with the heat, then came back with a wipeout slider that finished the at-bat. The batter tipped his helmet afterward, clearly recognizing both the pitch sequence and the execution.
There was a moment between pitcher and hitter after the strikeout. It wasn’t trash talk, more like mutual respect. The hitter seemed to acknowledge Betances getting back to form, even if it came at his own expense. It was a small but telling exchange—a mix of frustration and admiration. Betances didn’t just get the out, he showed he still had his stuff.