After a slow start to the game, the Los Angeles Dodgers battled against the Detroit Tigers to overcome a two-run deficit and a blown save before a walk-off in extra innings to secure their fourth straight victory to open the season.
Mookie Betts was the hero of the game as he blasted the three-run walk-off homer to secure the win and cap off the night that was started by the 2024 World Series championship ring ceremony. Betts also homered in the eighth inning, which gave the Dodgers a 3-2 lead.
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With the two-home run game, Betts became the first player in MLB history to hit a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning or later, and then hit a walk-off home run later in the same game for his first two-long balls of the season, according to OptaSTATS.
Mookie Betts of the @Dodgers is the first player in MLB history to hit a go-ahead homer in the 8th or later and then a walkoff homer for his first 2 homers of the season (same game). pic.twitter.com/59TOPWQ3WF
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) March 29, 2025
The home runs came as a relief for Betts as he’s battled a stomach illness to begin the season and lost roughly 20 pounds. He was unable to play in the Tokyo Series, but returned to the lineup for Opening Day in Los Angeles.
After hitting the walk-off home run, Betts let out his emotions while rounding the bases before he was greeted at home plate by his teammates.
“I know it sounds super selfish, but more for me, I was really proud of myself for coming in and playing underweight, not that it’s a big deal to play underweight, but just the fight I’ve kind of been through,” Betts said. “The ups and downs, the nights where I’m just crying because I’m sick, and my wife there and just kind of holding me. That’s really where that emotion kind of comes from. And then obviously, to win it for the boys, that’s where the rest of it comes.”
Mookie Betts stronger despite stomach illness
Despite the rapid weight loss and being unable to partake in baseball activities for a some time, Betts believes his strength is not a problem.
“I’m actually stronger than I was before. My body has been perfectly fine,” he said. “It’s only been my stomach. Literally only my stomach. I’ve been working out, doing everything perfectly normal. It was just hard to hold down food.”
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