The Los Angeles Dodgers broke out the bats in a 7-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday, receiving contributions from Mookie Betts and several other players.
The eight-time All-Star went 2-for-4 with a double, home run and two RBI, extending his hitting streak to six games in the process. Betts additionally has reached base safely in 14 consecutive games.
Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman also combined to go 2-for-7 with a home run, walk and two RBI, rounding out a successful night for the top of the Dodgers lineup.
Those three have led the way more times than not, but Betts believes the middle of the lineup is key to the Dodgers’ success.
“I honestly don’t think it’s the top of the lineup. I think it’s Teo, Muncy, Pages, those guys in the middle are really what make us go,” Betts said.
“We at the top can do our thing and whatnot, but it takes those guys to cause more havoc and make it really tough on opposing pitchers. We do our thing up there, but it’s really those guys that kind of carry us.”
Teoscar Hernández has been one of the Dodgers’ biggest bats over the last two seasons, but he is in the midst of a down year and entered Tuesday’s matchup 0-for-his-last-12 at the plate.
Hernández ended that drought in a big way as he hit two home runs as part of a 3-for-4 effort against the Rockies.
“He makes the lineup a lot longer when he’s driving in runs and doing what he does,” Betts said of Hernández. “It was good to see him smile and throwing seeds.
“His smile is infectious and kind of energizes us. When he’s going, it seems like the team is going.”
Dave Roberts praises Mookie Betts
After struggling offensively for much of the season, Betts has turned things around in September. Through eight games this month, he’s batting a stellar .324/.343/.706 with two doubles, one triple, three home runs and 10 RBI.
“He looks like Mookie. He’s just playing baseball, I don’t think he’s overthinking the mechanics, he’s competing, he’s trying to help us win baseball games,” Roberts said. “And you’re seeing that kind of emotion, the confidence, the swagger, which we hadn’t seen in a while. It’s been consistent over the last 30 days.”
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