Dodgers riding high with Betts
Mookie Betts is leaping into the World Series, carrying to the Dodgers with his glove rather than with his bat.
The star right fielder made his third terrific catch in three days, this time robbing Freddie Freeman of a home run and helping the Dodgers beat the Braves 4-3 on Sunday night in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series.
The Dodgers trailed 3-2 in the fifth inning, and manager Dave Roberts already had brought on his third pitcher when the Braves made a bid to widen their lead.
Free man drove a cutter deep to right field, and Betts sprinted 64 feet to the wall and jumped, just to the side of a credit-card advertisement. His glove above the 8-foot top, he snatched the ball as itwas headed over.
Run saved!
Another web gem, perhaps even more impressive than his robberies of Dansby Swanson in Game 5 with a shoestring grab and of Marcell Ozuna in Game 6 against the wall a little bit more toward center.
“The one yesterday was probably the most important. I think thatwe stopped their momentum for sure,” Betts said. “But I think that today is probably my favorite because it was actually a home run.”
His catch on Freeman kept the Dodgers close, and they rallied behind home runs by Kiké Hernández and Cody Bellinger.
Now it’s onto the World Series against the Rays starting Tuesday night, a chance for Betts to get a second ring to add to the jewelry earned with the Red Sox two years ago.
And it’s another opportunity for the Dodgers to win their first title since 1988 following losses in 2017 and 2018.