Mookie Betts received somewhat of a reprieve on Wednesday from what’s been a trying season as his infield single with two outs in the ninth inning kept the game alive for the Los Angeles Dodgers in an eventual walk-off win thanks to a hit from Freddie Freeman.
Betts went 1-for-5 with one strikeout and continued to be plagued by soft pop-ups in the Dodgers’ 4-3 win over the Minnesota Twins. It was his fourth game since being moved into the leadoff spot of the lineup as manager Dave Roberts looked to help jumpstart Betts.
“I think he’s still not right mechanically, clearly,” Roberts said after the Dodgers ended their homestand with a series win.
“I do know it hasn’t affected Shohei, so that’s a good thing. And I do think getting Mookie on base sets the stage. I still like the mindset of being a table setter and finding a way to get on base anyway he can, to get that on-base (percentage) up.
“And then the hits will start coming, the slug, all that stuff. But I think it looks right. I like it.”
Betts is now 3-for-17 with three runs scored, one double, two walks and two strikeouts in four games as the Dodgers’ new leadoff hitter.
Mookie Betts potentially not playing against Red Sox
While the 32-year-old has yet to come out of his rut this year, Roberts was asked if the Dodgers playing the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park could help provide a spark for Betts given his career began there.
Roberts didn’t rule out the possibility but also revealed Betts might miss the series opener on Friday.
“I know there’s some things going on personally for him, so I’ve got to talk to him. We’ll see if he’s going to be there for the Friday game,” Roberts said.
“There might be some things going on that he might not be around, that he’s got to deal with personally. But everything is OK with him, so we’ll see.”
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