Three-time World Series Champion Mookie Betts hit a walk-off three-run home run, lifting the Los Angeles Dodgers to an 8-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers in extra innings.
It was the second homerun of the night for Betts, the first being in the eighth to give the Dodgers a 3-2 lead.
Betts had been battling a stomach illness for the past two weeks that caused him to lose weight and miss the first two games in the season in Japan.
“Given what he’s been under the last couple of weeks and still go out there and be ready and not be 100 percent and still give us everything he has, coming up huge,” said Dodgers general manager Dave Roberts. “I can’t say enough about [Betts].”
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Betts celebrated as he rounded the bases from his walk-off dinger. He mentioned that the emotions he felt were a sense of pride he had within himself for battling back to the diamond from his illness.
“That was super special,” Betts said. “I was really proud of myself for coming in and playing underweight.”
Tommy Edman and Will Smith secured a run each and Ohtani singled before Betts took the mound. Betts noted how he relied on his skill set during the at-bat.
“Put the bat on the ball, it didn’t really matter where it went at that point … their pressure was kind of off,” Betts said. “We were going to get another at bat with Freddie (Freeman) there, and we all know what [Freeman] does in those types of situations.”
The matchup started with the championship ring ceremony for the Dodgers. NAACP Award-winning actor Anthony Anderson and renowned voiceover actor Randy Thomas announced each player, coaching staff member, and owner.
The ring is crafted in 14-karat yellow gold. With the use of diamonds and sapphires, the rings paid homage to the eight championships won by the club, the five-run deficit the Dodgers overcame in Game Five of the World Series, Los Angeles, and late Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela.
The rings also include a replica of Dodger Stadium; each player has their signature engraved inside their ring.
“This is my favorite one so far,” Betts said about the championship ring. “Hopefully I can get some more.”
Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto made a career high of 10 strikeouts in a span of five innings.
“[Yamamoto] moved the ball around pretty good, started crowding some of the lefties, get some good two-seamers in some of the righties,” said Austin Barnes. “A lot of punchouts. It’s hard to hit efficient when you’re striking out 10 guys in five.”
Former Dodger Jack Flaherty was the starting pitcher for the Detroit Tigers and held his former team scoreless for five innings. The Detroit batters paid him back with Dillon Dingler hitting a home run in the second inning and Gleyber Torres homering in the third.
National League MVP Tommy Edman was the first Dodger to get a hit in the fifth, and the bats of the reigning World Champs heated up in the following innings. Betts singled, which allowed Freddie Freeman to hit a two-run home run and tie the game.
Flaherty was subbed out soon after; he ended the night after 5.2 innings with five strikeouts.
A native of Burbank, Flaherty was the starting pitcher for the Dodgers in Game One of both the NLCS and the World Series last season.
This game is the 855th win the Dodgers secured with Roberts as skipper, the fourth most in the franchise.
