Despite their matchup Sunday not being a series finale, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins had an early start time due to being selected for a Peacock stream. The added layer of oddity to a wraparound series didn’t slow down Mookie Betts, who had another big performance at loanDepot Park.
Betts went into the day 5-for-10 with one double, three home runs, five RBI and one stolen base through the first two games of the series. He provided the Dodgers with an immediate lead by hitting a leadoff homer off Marlins starter Edwin Cabrera. Betts finished 3-for-5 with two RBI and a triple shy of the cycle.
He collected a second RBI on a base hit in the sixth inning, and added a double in the ninth.
While Betts has seven leadoff home runs this season, he believed the blast on Sunday carried extra significance because of the rare start time for the Dodgers, per Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“Today I would say probably more than other days, because it’s really kind of a 9 o’clock game for us,” Betts said of the value of leadoff home runs. “I think that kind of woke us up a little bit, that I was able to do that. Like I’ve said, I do whatever I can to help us win.”
Overall this season, Betts has 31 home runs, his most since slugging 32 en route to winning 2018 American League MVP. He presumably will hit three more before the regular season concludes to finish with a new career high. However, pursuing that mark will be paused Monday as Betts isn’t expected to be in the Dodgers lineup due to receiving a day of rest.
Mookie Betts added to Team USA roster
Late last week, the six-time All-Star was added to the Team USA roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Betts joined the likes of Tim Anderson, Pete Alonso, Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt, Bryce Harper, Cedric Mullins, J.T. Realmuto, Trevor Story and Mike Trout in committing to playing for the United States.
Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel was named to the Team USA coaching staff for the 2023 WBC.
Freddie Freeman is suiting up for Team Canada.
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