LA rely on top Betts

Mookie stars for Dodgers

LOS Angeles outfielder Mookie Betts put himself in rarefied company with a standout performance in the Dodgers’ game- one victory over Tampa Bay in the 116th World Series yesterday.

Betts sparked the Dodgers’ four- run fifth inning with a walk and two stolen bases, joining legendary Babe Ruth as the only players in World Series history to record such an inning.

After walking to lead off the inning, Betts stole second base. After Corey Seager walked, Betts reached third on a double steal, giving the Dodgers runners on second and third with one out.

Betts took an aggressive stance off the bag at third, and when teammate Max Muncy hit a ground ball to first, Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz couldn’t get the ball to the plate in time to prevent him from scoring on a headfirst slide.

Betts said the base- stealing was a way to create “havoc”.

“That’s just another element that Mookie brings,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “He does a lot of studying to be able to create stress.”

Betts added a lead- off homer in the bottom of the sixth – his first hit of the night – joining Chase Utley as the only players with a homer and two stolen bases in a World Series game.

Utley also did it against the Rays – for the Philadelphia Phillies in game one of the 2008 World Series.

Betts is the only player in World Series history to post a home run, two stolen bases and two runs scored in a single game.

“I like winning,” Betts said when asked if scoring or driving in runs gave him more satisfaction. “Whichever one is needed that day, I like doing that.

“You can’t do just one, you have to do both.”

Betts, who joined the Dodgers prior to this season after helping the Boston Red Sox beat them in the 2018 World Series, has deliberately honed every aspect of his game.

He made spectacular catches in games six and seven of the National League Championship Series as the Dodgers rallied from a 3- 1 series deficit to beat the Braves.