Mookie Betts went 4-for-4 with three doubles, one home run, three runs scored and one RBI on Saturday but left the game in the seventh inning with a right hip irritation. Betts limped off the field with the Los Angeles Dodgers holding a 4-2 lead over the Colorado Rockies.
Betts appeared to be favoring his right leg as he slowly walked toward the dugout. SportsNet LA cameras later showed a replay of him wincing after scoring a go-ahead run from second base on Max Muncy’s base hit in the sixth inning.
Betts played the field but appeared to again be bothered by some sort of leg issue on a drive into the right-center field gap in the seventh. Charlie Blackmon and Garrett Hampson collided, but Betts could only jog into second base.
Any sort of long-term injury would come at a particularly inopportune time considering Betts came out of the All-Star break on a tear and the Dodgers are on the verge of facing the first-place San Francisco Giants seven times in 12 days.
“You knew he was going to come out on the other side,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Betts prior to Saturday’s game. “He’s a great worker, understands his swing, understands approach, and the talent is obviously clear. We go as he goes. We saw signs the last couple weeks that he was coming out of that little funk.
“I think we’re going to be in for a fun ride in the second half.”
Betts elected for rest
Although Betts was selected to the 2021 MLB All-Star Game, he chose to bypass on participating in the event so he could rest and recover from nagging injuries (left shoulder and back) suffered in the first half.
That decision was paying off in spades, but now the Dodgers must hope to have avoided yet another injury to an everyday player.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and more!
