Watch: Mookie Betts hits game-winning homer in extra innings to lead Dodgers past Angels 6-2 in Shohei Othani’s return to Anaheim

Los Angeles Dodgers news: Watch: Mookie Betts hits game-winning homer in extra  innings to lead Dodgers past Angels 6-2 in Shohei Othani's return to Anaheim  – NBC Los Angeles

Shohei Ohtani hit an RBI triple in his first regular-season game back at Angel Stadium, and he scored on Mookie Betts’ three-run homer in the 10th inning of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night.

Ohtani went 1 for 4 with his tying triple in the third inning after the two-way superstar received a warm welcome back to the stadium where he excelled for the Angels over the past six years. Ohtani won two AL MVP awards and a Rookie of the Year trophy while redefining what’s possible in modern baseball, but he couldn’t lead the long-struggling Halos to a winning season.

“The biggest part of all this is being able to play at this stadium in front of the Anaheim fans,” Ohtani said through his interpreter. “That was the part that was special for me. … Most importantly, it’s about winning the game, and I’m glad we won.”

The Dodgers already led 3-2 in the 10th on Miguel Rojas’ RBI single before the Angels intentionally walked their former star slugger to get to Betts, who drove the next pitch from Roansy Contreras (2-4) over the fence in left.

“With Shohei doing what Shohei always does, I understand their perspective,” Betts said. “So I was just trying to get a good pitch to hit.”

Ron Washington was the first opposing manager to intentionally walk the batter in front of Betts, an eight-time All-Star and former AL MVP, since 2016.

“You’re picking poison when you deal with the first three hitters,” Washington said. “I wasn’t going to let Ohtani swing there, and I have all the respect in the world for Mookie Betts. I just was hoping Contreras could make a pitch and get us a ground ball.”

Ohtani and Betts, who drove in four runs, celebrated at home plate before the major league-leading Dodgers finished off their 12th win in 15 games.

“It was still a big hit, but when another manager walks the player in front of you, you take it personally,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I know Wash had nothing personal. It’s a fine baseball decision, but as a player, that’s what motivates you.”

Ohtani got more cheers than boos from a sellout crowd featuring thousands of blue-clad Dodgers fans when he stepped to the plate as the game’s first hitter. The Angels didn’t give him a major tribute, only posting a graphic with a list of his top accomplishments with the franchise he chose to be his first major league club in late 2017.

“Probably a little more enthusiasm than typical down here,” Dodgers starter Walker Buehler said of the sellout crowd. “We’re an hour away, but it’s a different situation for us.”

Michael Kopech (5-8) pitched the ninth for the Dodgers.

Logan O’Hoppe and Taylor Ward homered for the Angels, who couldn’t record three straight wins for the first time since July 24.

Angels reliever Ben Joyce ended the Dodgers’ ninth inning by striking out Tommy Edman with a 105.5-mph fastball. That’s the third-fastest pitch thrown in the majors during the pitch-tracking era, which began in 2008.

Reid Detmers struck out 10 and yielded three hits over six innings. The left-hander was sharp in his first major league appearance since June 1 for the Angels, who demoted him to the minors after months of inconsistency.

Walker Buehler allowed five hits and two walks over five innings for the Dodgers, making a modest improvement on his past four starts as he attempts to lock down a spot in their postseason plans.

O’Hoppe hammered a 438-foot shot off Buehler in the second inning for his 18th homer, the most by an Angels catcher since 2008.

Ohtani’s drive in the third got lodged in the right-field corner, allowing Rojas to score from first. Ohtani then strolled home on Betts’ single over a drawn-in infield.

Ward tied it again when he put his 20th homer of the season into the short porch in right field in the fifth inning, extending his hitting streak to a career-best 13 games.

Ohtani came up with a runner on in the eighth, but José Quijada struck him out with a pair of high fastballs.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched two solid innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City in his return from right triceps soreness. … Brusdar Graterol (hamstring) made his first rehab appearance since his injury, throwing 15 pitches for Oklahoma City.

Angels: Washington had no update on first-round pick Christian Moore, who left last Friday’s game at Double-A Rocket City with a leg injury.

UP NEXT

Griffin Canning (4-12, 5.19 ERA) takes the mound for the Angels in the series finale Wednesday night against Bobby Miller (2-3, 7.25 ERA).

Related Posts

Vaughn Grissom on his difficult 2024 season: ‘I think I’m better for it’

WORCESTER — When the Red Sox acquired Vaughn Grissom from Atlanta for Chris Sale in December, the 23-year-old was expected to make big contributions in the major-league…

Minor Lines: Worcester Might Win Out! Dobbins, Meidroth, and Anthony lead the Woo Sox to their sixth straight win.

It might have been worth promoting “The Big Four” a little bit earlier for the sole reason of seeing what this Worcester team could do in the…

Red Sox offseason could be a blockbuster thanks to Alex Cora connections

After finishing the 2023 season with a 78-84 record and a last-place finish within the American League East, the Boston Red Sox had high hopes of showing…

Yankees 5, Red Sox 4: Judgement Day?

First things first: Dog bless emergency starter Richard Fitts, filling in for the injured Tanner Houck, and his Yankees counterpart Clarke Schmidt for making it through five innings unscathed…

3 Reasons Why Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto is So Dominant

The Los Angeles Dodgers had one of their sloppiest defensive games of the season Tuesday, ending with Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong robbing a home run…

Dodgers notes: Shohei Ohtani pitching in postseason, Tyler Glasnow’s elbow

All of a sudden, the question of whethier Tyler Glasnow or Shohei Ohtani is more likely to pitch for the Dodgers in the postseason is an actual toss up….

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *