Game-2 of Saturday’s doubleheader between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs at historic Wrigley Field will forever be remembered as “The Mookie [Betts] Game” … at least one of them.

In the simplest of terms, the Dodgers would not have won the game (thereby sweeping the doubleheader) without the 29-year-old Nashville, TN native’s five runs batted in in the eventual 6-2 Dodgers victory.

But it didn’t start out that way.

In the bottom of the first inning, 29-year-old Cubs designated hitter and leadoff batter Willson Contreras hit what was improperly ruled a triple instead of an obvious error by the Dodgers right fielder on a ball that he: A) catches 99.999 percent of the time, and: B) muffed while picking it allowing it to scoot away from him which, in turn, allowed Contreras to slide in safely at third base. Contreras would then score two batters later on a fielder’s choice by Cubs left fielder Ian Happ.

“This is my second time playing here; I mean, obviously, no excuses, but it’s just something to get used to,” Betts said of his non-error after the game. “The wind is what really makes it tough. People talk about it, it’s easy to talk about it, but when you experience it, then you really think about… then you think about every out that comes out there.”

Now for the good (great) news.

In the top of the second inning, with the score tied 1-1 and the bases loaded, Betts hit a bases-clearing three-run double into the left field corner, which ricocheted off of Wrigley’s infamous brick wall to make it a 4-1 ballgame. He then slugged his team-leading fifth home run of the season, a two-run shot to left-center field in the top of the ninth inning, to make it 6-2, the eventual final score.

“It feels great just to be able to contribute again,” Betts said postgame. “You know, we got Freddie [Freeman], and Trea [Turner], and Munce [Max Muncy], and JT [Justin Turner], and those guys behind me, I mean, I got really one job, and that’s just to get on base. Being able to get on base and get a couple RBIs is sweet.”

Make that five of the Dodgers six RBIs and two of their three hits in the game.

“The Mookie Game” indeed.

Play Ball!

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