Mookie Betts punctuated a successful return to Fenway Park by tying a career high with his 35th home run that proved to be difference for the Los Angeles Dodgers in their 7-4 win in a rubber match against the Boston Red Sox.
The Dodgers have now won eight consecutive series and finished 4-2 on their road trip.
Red Sox fans again treated Betts to a standing ovation as he led off the game, and a single extended his hitting streak to 15 games. Betts then didn’t have another hit until his two-run homer in the sixth inning that extended the Dodgers’ lead to 4-0.
It gave Betts 66 career home runs at Fenway Park, and his first since being traded to the Dodgers in February 2020. Betts was set up by Austin Barnes’ two-out double that extended his hitting streak to five games.
Overall, Betts’ 35 home runs out of the leadoff spot are tied for seventh-most in MLB history. The MLB record is shared by Alfonso Soriano (2006) and George Springer (2019), who both hit 35 homers in a season as the leadoff man.
The Dodgers took their initial lead on Sunday behind James Outman’s solo homer in the fourth inning, and Max Muncy added an RBI single in the fifth.
Outman added an RBI base hit in the seventh inning, Betts followed suit in the eighth and Amed Rosario beat out a double play to bring a run in as well.
While he was the star of the afternoon — and reunion weekend — Freddie Freeman continued with his impressive season as well. Freeman went 3-for-5 with two doubles in the win.
Freeman broke the L.A. Dodgers franchise record for most doubles in a season with 50. It previously belonged to Shawn Green, who hit 49 doubles during the 2003 season.
Johnny Frederick holds the all-time Dodgers franchise record with 53 doubles in 1929. Freeman is on pace to hit 63 doubles this season.
Gavin Stone has successful return with Dodgers
The Dodgers recalled Gavin Stone from Triple-A Oklahoma City to fill a bulk innings role, and the young prospect did so with the best game of his career at the Major League level thus far.
Stone allowed two runs through six innings — both of which came on a fly ball of home run to left field by Triston Casas in the sixth inning.
Stone curiously was left in the game to pitch the bottom of the eighth, which was short-lived as he surrendered back-to-back home runs to Justin Turner and Adam Duvall.
Stone’s final line was four runs allowed over six-plus innings.
Ryan Brasier followed him and retired all three batters faced. Brasier, who was part of the 2018 Red Sox team that won the World Series, entered to loud boos for his return to Boston.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
