Mookie Betts had his fingerprints all over the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 8-4 win against the New York Yankees on Friday at Dodger Stadium.
The six-time All-Star began the night with the 41st leadoff home run of his career in the bottom of the first, and added an RBI single in the same inning after the Dodgers batted around.
Betts later hit his second homer of the game in the sixth that extended the Dodgers’ lead to 8-2. He finished with four hits in four at-bats, a walk and stolen base.
According to STATS, Betts became the first MLB player in the modern era to record four hits, multiple home runs, a multi-hit inning and stolen base in the same game.
Tonight the @Dodgers' Mookie Betts:
– notched 4+ hits
– hit multiple HR
– hit a leadoff HR
– had a multi-hit inning
– stole a baseHe's the only MLB player in the modern era to do all of that in the same game. pic.twitter.com/LvpfLUhCsi
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) June 3, 2023
However, after the impressive 4-for-4 showing, Betts went hitless in the next two games against the Yankees — both losses for the Dodgers. He’s in the midst of another stellar season, batting .257/.362/.532 with 14 doubles, 15 home runs and 36 RBI across 57 games.
Betts wasn’t the only Dodgers player to make MLB history in Friday’s series opener as Clayton Kershaw earned his first career win against the Yankees, the 27th different team he has defeated.
Kershaw earning at least one victory against 27 different opponents with a single team is the most among any pitcher all-time.
Dave Roberts: Mookie Betts ‘modern day Rickey Henderson’
After Betts’ performance, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts compared the 2018 American League MVP to Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson. “It’s the modern day Rickey Henderson,” Roberts said.
“He’s instant offense. Getting in the box after we throw up a zero, he puts us up in the bottom of the first inning. Guys feed off that.”
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