LOS ANGELES – Mookie Betts is no longer sick, and he was able to ultimately hold back his food, eat a storm and pack the weight he fell while fighting the stomach virus during the first two weeks of the season.
And, as the eighth All-Star reminded everyone, “I'm still good at baseball.”
He's certainly true.
The Los Angeles Dodgers star hit two home runs, including a three-run explosion in 10 innings that gave the Detroit Tigers an 8-5 victory to the Defending World Series champions on Friday night.
“It wasn't on my bingo card,” said manager Dave Roberts. “He's just doing some special things.”
The Dodgers were off to a 4-0 start for the first time since 1981, winning the World Series.
Betts had his third career walk-off homer. Eighth, Homer, the first of his season, put the Dodgers forward for the first time.
“Now I'm just enjoying hitting a 160-pound homer,” he said with a laugh.
Betts went three times on three runs, three with four RBIs and three with four RBIs on the night the Dodgers received their glittering World Series ring.
“We were joking that the first home run he hit was his best hope that he had right now with all the power he had,” said third baseman Max Muncie.
Betts traveled to Japan with his team for the opening two-game series with the Chicago Cubs. However, he returned early and before he put on the suit because the virus lost about 15 pounds.
“I'm 165 now so another 7-8 pounds will really help me, but 10 is ideal,” he said.
How is he going to win?
“Try to eat, just eat all day,” he said. “My chef and wife, both of us cook enough. I eat during the game.”
Betts couldn't hold back the food when he felt the worst and initially didn't know what was wrong.
So, when Beau Breeske sailed to the pavilion on the left field from his game-winning shot, Betts was pounding his fist, his head was filled with thoughts, and his teammates were waiting for him at the plate.
“It's the kind of battles I've had, the ups and downs, the night I'm crying because of my illness,” he said. “My wife is there and just hugging me. It's really where that feeling comes from.”
Betts raised his right arm into the air, threw his helmet towards the dugout, and flew around a few times as he approached the plate. His teammates celebrated him by soaking him in the water.
“I can't say enough about Mookie,” Roberts said. “He won a ball game for us.”
Betts came to the plate on the 10th after a back-to-back singles by Will Smith and Shohai Otani.
“The pressure was a bit off,” Betts said. “We were going to get Freddie (Freeman) and another at-bat there. We all know what Freddie is doing in that situation.
And Betts did.
“I know it sounds very selfish,” he said, “but I was really proud of myself.”
