BETTS HITS LEADOFF HR, SPARKS DODGERS OVER D-BACKS

Mookie Betts led off Saturday night’s game with a homer. Dave Roberts — sarcastically — said he was disappointed there weren’t many highlights that followed.

“He only got two hits tonight,” the Dodgers manager said with a grin.

“Kind of a slow night for Mookie.”

Betts started the game with his 14th homer of the season, Justin Turner added four hits and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2.

Betts hit his 32nd career leadoff home run, ripping a fastball from Merrill Kelly

Dodgers 3, D-backs 2

over the right-field fence for his sixth long ball over the past eight games. The fivetime All-star has been the catalyst for the Dodgers, who have a 27-5 record when he scores a run.

The 29-year-old is in the midst of an Mvp-caliber stretch, batting .341 (46 for 135) with 14 homers and 29 RBIS since April 19. He leads the majors with 49 runs scored this year and is on pace to cross the plate more than 170 times this season.

Roberts said Betts’ ability to put up huge numbers while contributing small boosts — such as moving Gavin Lux from first to second with a groundout in the sixth — are evidence that the slugger can contribute in a variety of ways.

“He’s still playing the team game of baseball,” Roberts said. “He’s been fantastic.”

Turner added two doubles and two singles, contributing four of the team’s 10 hits. Daniel Hudson threw a scoreless ninth for his third save, working around Ketel Marte’s leadoff double.

The D-backs responded to Betts’ homer, taking a 2-1 lead in the second thanks to two run-scoring triples, first by Jake Mccarthy and then by Geraldo Perdomo. Both were line drives into Chase Field’s cavernous right-center field gap.

The Dodgers won despite several baserunning mistakes. Edwin Rios and Freddie Freeman were picked off first base, Trea Turner was caught stealing and Gavin Lux was thrown out at third after trying to tag from second base on a fly out.

Tony Gonsolin (5-0) had another good start for the Dodgers, giving up just two earned runs over six innings. The right-hander hasn’t given up more than two earned runs in any of his nine starts this season and has a 1.80 ERA over 45 innings.

Notable

The Dodgers added veteran outfielder Kevin Pillar, who gets a one-year contract calling for a $2.5 million salary while in the major leagues and $180,000 while in the minors. He can earn an additional $1.5 million in performance bonuses for plate appearances, getting the maximum for 550.

Mets ace Jacob degrom says his injured right shoulder blade feels “completely normal,” and he’s waiting for New York’s medical staff to clear him to resume throwing off a mound. Degrom has been sidelined since late in spring training with a stress reaction in his scapula. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner played catch Friday out to 135 feet, but he’s still not sure when he’ll throw his first bullpen or be ready for game action.

The Braves, looking to upgrade their outfield defense, called up top prospect Michael Harris from Double-a Mississippi. The 21year-old Harris started in center field and hitting ninth against the Marlins. The addition of Harris allows the Braves to move Adam Duvall

from center field to one of the corner spots in the outfield.

The White Sox designated starter Dallas Keuchel

for assignment, the team announced.