Mookie Betts continued his torrid start to the season but the Los Angeles Dodgers came up short against the St. Louis Cardinals in 10 innings.
Betts finished the night 3-for-4 with one double, a home run, one RBI and two walks. His solo homer in the bottom of the night cut the Dodgers deficit in half and later resulted in Max Muncy’s game-tying RBI single.
“It’s awesome to know we’re fighting,” Betts said of the Dodgers lineup showing an ability to rally.
“Each and every game we’re putting ourselves in position to win, take leads and whatnot. Constantly putting pressure on the other side. We didn’t come through today but it’s really encouraging knowing that we’re not going to stop.”
Betts, Muncy and Will Smith are the only players with at least one hit in each of the Dodgers’ five games this year. Betts additionally is in the midst of a career-best streak with a home run in four consecutive games.
He previously homered three times in a row against the Miami Marlins from Aug. 26-28, 2022.
Overall this season, Betts is batting an otherworldly .611/.720/1.389 with two doubles, four home runs, 10 RBI and seven walks. He leads the Majors in on-base percentage, slugging, on-base plus slugging (2.109), home runs, RBI and walks, all while adjusting to being an everyday shortstop.
“I think the great thing with Mookie is they’re really two separate points,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Betts balancing his offense with playing a new position.
“He’s off to a great start because he’s off to a great start. And the defense, learning a new position, arguably the hardest on the field, doesn’t bleed into the offense, whether it be good or bad. I think he’s unique in that sense.
“You would argue that it would have to take some toll on your mental capacity to perform offensively if you’re taking up a challenging position like shortstop, but for him it just doesn’t get in the way. He’s done a great job of compartmentalizing.”
Mookie Betts breaks Dodgers record
On Friday night, Betts broke the Dodgers franchise record with his 29th career leadoff home run. The mark previously belonged to Davey Lopes.
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