Mookie Betts’ 300th homer sparks Dodger sweep

Mookie Betts celebrates his 300th career home run in the second inning at Minnesota on June 24. (Andrew Ritter/MLB)

by Mark Langill

The regular season is half over and the Dodgers own baseball’s best record with a roster that feels half full with marquee names on the injured list.

But one marquee name helped the Dodger close out the first 81 games with a victory.

Mookie Betts celebrated his 300th career home run in a 4–3 victory over the Twins on Wednesday, capping a three-game sweep in Minnesota.

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Betts hit a solo home run in the second inning and had a three-hit night. He continued his late June ascension with his fifth multi-hit game in his last 11 games. Betts is 17-for-45 over his last 11 games raising his season batting average from .181 on June 12 to .230.

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Starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani and catcher Dalton Rushing worked through some second-inning miscommunication during Minnesota’s three-run frame.

One of the runs scored on a passed ball that bounced off Rushing’s glove and caromed into the third-base dugout. There was also some miscommunication on ABS challenges.

“I wasn’t quite convicted on a lot of pitches that I wanted to throw,” said Ohtani, who allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits in six innings. “So I think that’s what you saw that inning.”

As the Dodgers returned to their dugout for the third inning, Rushing received visits from, among others, Freddie Freeman, manager Dave Roberts and pitching coach Mark Prior.

“It’s great, they always have my back,” Rushing said. “(But) once again, it’s embarrassing that I need support like that. … I’m going to be better.”

Ohtani excelled on the mound from there and had an RBI single during the Dodgers’ three-run third inning against Minnesota starter Joe Ryan.

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The Dodger trio of Kyle Hurt, Alex Vesia and Tanner Scott (11th save) pitched the final three innings as the Dodgers head to San Diego for a weekend series against the Padres.