Mookie Betts surprised himself with the outcome of his first at-bat of Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres. The former Boston Red Sox world champion and American League MVP gave the Los Angeles Dodgers an early lead on Tuesday night.
Betts had been in the middle, realistically of, a three-year postseason slump and truly struggled to produce ever since the Dodgers won the World Series in 2020 in Betts’ first season away from the Red Sox.
Bad luck, struggles, whatever it may be; Betts had another tough break in Game 2 when Jurickson Profar robbed a home run in the first inning. Just two nights later, Betts lifted a pitch from Padres starter Michael King to nearly the same spot in left field — this time at Petco Park. Profar once again tracked the ball to the wall and leapt with a chance for another highlight play. The ball just tipped off Profar’s glove for a solo home run.
Given Betts’ recent stretch, he already started running back to the Los Angeles dugout assuming Profar got him again. Instead, he looped back to second base for a moment that should bring a smile to the two-time world champion, just as Red Sox legend David Ortiz hoped he would during FOX’s pregame coverage.
The long ball marked Betts’ fifth career postseason home run and his fourth with the Dodgers. His first playoff home run came back in the 2018 World Series with the Red Sox at Dodger Stadium in the clinching game for Boston.
Betts added another hit in the third inning. Could that be the answer to get Betts getting back on track in October?