Mookie Betts didn’t record a hit in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 5-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday, but otherwise had one of the most productive and record-setting months in franchise history.
Betts scored 31 runs in May, becoming the first Dodgers player to reach the 30-run threshold in a single month since Duke Snider in July 1954.
Betts also tied an L.A. Dodgers franchise record by scoring at least one run in 12 consecutive games, and set a new mark with at least one run in 15 straight starts.
In addition to getting on base, Betts also provided power with 12 home runs during the month. His 12 homers tied Roy Campanella’s 1953 for the most home runs by a Dodgers player in May.
Betts additionally hit 10 doubles, becoming the first Dodger with double digits in both home runs and doubles during the same month.
Betts’ 22 extra-base hits during May fell one shy of Babe Herman (July 1930) and Snider (June 1954), who share the record for the most in a calendar month in Dodgers history. However, Betts broke Jackie Robinson’s record for most extra-base hits in May.
“It’s one of those things that when a guy is swinging a bat like he is, every borderline call goes his way, every soft contact goes his way, but then he’s squaring up a lot of balls also,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Betts.
“It seems like he’s on everything. He’s just seeing the ball so well. Even [Monday], he made a perfect throw that potentially could have saved the game for us. He’s doing stuff with the glove, with the arm, and obviously with the bat.”
Betts: Dodgers ‘haven’t really played that great’
After dropping two in a row to the Pirates, Betts believes the Dodgers haven’t been able to fire on all cylinders yet. “I think we haven’t really played that great,” he said.
“I know we’re winning games and finding ways, but we haven’t really for a stretch put together all four facets — baserunning, defense, hitting and pitching.
“I think we do it all well, but we slack in certain areas when we don’t need to. It comes back to hurt us, but luckily we’re a good team and have managed. To his point, we do need to play better baseball just in general.”
Are you following Dodger Blue on Instagram? It’s the best way to see exclusive coverage from games and events, get your questions answered, and more!
