Mookie Betts Breaks LA Dodgers Record, Dream Start Continues Amidst Crucial Season

Nobody can stop the Mookie Hype Train. While the $700 million Shohei Ohtani is getting the maximum attention, Mookie Betts is the one who is currently leading the Los Angeles Dodgers’ dream start. Last season showed Betts’ slugging abilities becoming more prominent but things aren’t much different this time around. The fact that it’s been barely 4 games and the superstar has already hit 3 home runs is astounding. So is the fact that he has just immortalized himself in the Blue Crews’ history.

The Dodgers made easy work of the St. Louis Cardinals in the game 2 with a comprehensive 6-3 win. It was offense galore for the Men in Blue with the team hitting 4 homers. Teoscar Hernandez’s two mega hits followed Betts’ leadoff long ball. And then finally Miguel Rojas hit his first home run of the season in the seventh off Giovanny Gallegos. This is huge for Miggy Ro as he didn’t open his homer account till August 2 last season.  

But what made this occasion supremely momentous was Betts’ newfound record. Reuters reports that this was Betts 29th leadoff home run for the Dodgers. With it, he has become the man with the most leadoff home runs in the Blue Crews’ history. The superstar broke the record of Davey Lopes, who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers between 1972-81. 

The fact that Betts has broken the record in merely five seasons shows this superstar’s domination on the plate. Even in MLB’s all-time list, Betts has climbed up to 5th position with his 49 leadoff home runs. The superstar now trails only Craig Biggio (53), Alfonso Soriano (54), George Springer (57), and Rickey Henderson (81).

But while Betts’ performance was remarkable, this game proved to be a massive confidence booster for Teoscar Hernandez and Bobby Miller.

Mookie Betts leads but the rest of the Dodgers prove their mettle 

While Betts’ recent form has been nothing short of remarkable, the Men in Blue as a whole seem better than last season. Their right-hander Bobby Miller threw six shutout innings and had a career-high 11 strikeouts. That game-changing performance became the primary reason for the utter domination that the Dodgers enjoyed in this game. Even their skipper Dave Roberts praised the pitcher, who is just in his second year. “He’s a top-end guy, he’s proving that now,” said Roberts. (Via Los Angeles Times)

Similarly, last night showed the depth in their hitting lineup. Apart from Mookie Betts, the rest of their top 3 couldn’t do much. But the two massive home runs by Teoscar Hernandez completely consolidated the Dodgers’ gains. “It feels great. I was just trying to get a good pitch…and tried to put a good swing on it,” Hernandez said. 

So with the entire Dodgers squad firing on all cylinders, this certainly is a dream start for the team. The series is set to continue today with Yoshinobu Yamamoto ready to make his first home start for the team. 

Read more: Shohei Ohtani Speaks on Home Debut Win, Lauds Dodgers’ Hitting Despite His Bad Home Run Luck