Mookie Betts celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a walk-off three-run home run in the 10th inning against the Detroit Tigers. (Photo by Michael Owens/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
(Michael Owens via Getty Images)
A nasty mystery illness left Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts nearly 20 pounds lighter and had many doubting he’d be able to make much of an impact this week for his team.
The Detroit Tigers didn’t seem to notice a weaker Betts, who hit two home runs on Friday night, including a walk-off 3-run blast that lifted the Dodgers to an 8-5 victory in 10 innings. The Dodgers are 4-0.
Betts, like most of Dodger Stadium, whooped it up as his winning hit rocketed toward the stands on a night when Los Angeles got to show off their World Series rings. Betts told reporters why Friday’s win was special, particularly after missing the first two games of the season in South Korea.
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“I know it sounds super selfish, but [it was] more for me,” Betts said. “I was really proud of myself for coming in and playing underweight, not that it’s a big deal playing underweight, but just the fight I’ve been through.
“The ups and downs, the nights where I’m just crying because I’m sick.”
Betts’ first homer of the season broke a 2-2 tie in the eighth inning. His solo shot barely made it over the left-field fence at about 396 feet. An umpire review upheld the call, ruling fan interference wasn’t in play on the hit.
Closer Tanner Scott blew the save as the Tigers’ Manuel Margot had a game-tying RBI single in the ninth inning. A 2-run triple from Dillon Dingler the following inning put the Tigers up 5-3.
The Dodgers rallied quickly to tie the game off reliever Beau Brieske on RBI hits from Michael Conforto (double) and Will Smith (single), setting the stage for Betts’ heroics.
