In a game that had three singles, four doubles, one triple and two home runs for a total of 10 Dodgers hits, there are plenty of at-bats to choose from that you would consider the most important of the game. But buried in all those at-bats, more specifically, the seven Dodgers at-bats in the bottom of the eighth inning, was an at-bat that allowed the potent Dodgers lineup to turn over.

That at-bat (officially scored as a plate appearance) was a four-pitch walk by Dodgers center fielder Cody Bellinger, It allowed Dodgers right fielder and recent All-Star Mookie Betts to come to the plate. Betts promptly hit a three-run home run to give the Dodgers a 9-6 lead and eventual win over The Hated Ones.

“Once Belli got up, to spit on all those pitches was huge,” said Dodgers left fielder Trayce Thompson, who himself tripled ahead of Bellinger in that explosive Dodgers eighth inning to tie the game at 6-6. “And then obviously to turn the lineup over to get to Mookie, … [Bellinger’s] at-bat probably goes a little unnoticed, but that was huge.”

Huge indeed.

Betts also recorded the final out of the game in the top of the ninth inning on a spectacular diving catch; one which he humbly downplayed as just doing his job.

“It’s just a catch,” Betts said modestly after the game. “I don’t get too excited about those. That’s my job. That’s what I’m supposed to do.”

Well done, boys!

Play Ball!

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