Mookie Betts already had an accomplished resume, particularly in October. He won the World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 2018 and another with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020.
The Dodgers entered Game 5 of the World Series with the chance to close out another championship. Those hopes took an early hit with a strong start from New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole and a trio of home runs from Aaron Judge, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Giancarlo Stanton.
Betts did get the Dodgers on the board in the fifth inning on an infield single when Cole did not cover first base. Los Angeles tied the game twice due to a complete defensive collapse from the Yankees.
Betts stepped to the plate against New York closer Luke Weaver with the chance to take the lead. The 2018 American League MVP did his job and lifted a sacrifice fly to center field that scored the go-ahead run for a 7-6 score.
“At that point, I was just like, ‘Don’t strike out,”’ Betts told FOX’s Tom Verducci. “Put one in play right there. You never know what’s gonna happen. I had a little talk with Freddie (Freeman) right before that because I didn’t know what to do. Freddie just said, ‘Trust your gut.’ I just went up there and said, ‘Put it in play.'”
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That became the final score as the Dodgers earned their first full-season championship since 1988.
“It was love,” Betts added. “It was grit. It was just a beautiful thing. I’m just proud of us.”
Betts ends his 11th MLB season with his third championship to solidify himself as a transcendent player of his generation with the Red Sox and Dodgers.
Featured image via Brad Penner/Imagn Images
