Dodgers Highlights: Mookie Leads L.A. to a Wild, Wacky Victory vs Marlins
Mookie Betts erased two deficits and later broke an extra-inning tie, highlighting a Los Angeles victory and adding to Bill Simmons’ nightmares. The Dodgers beat the Marlins, 10-6, in a 10-inning game that had more twists and turns than a Law & Order: SVU marathon.
David Price picks up the win for the Dodgers despite allowing a game-tying home run to lead off the bottom of the ninth. Price overcame errors by Trea and Justin Turner on consecutive plays to strand the winning run at third after the home run.
Tyler Anderson allowed one earned run in 5.1 innings but walks away with a no-decision.
Defense lets Anderson down
Anderson cruised through five innings before running into some trouble in the fifth. After a leadoff single and a popup, Anderson induced what looked like it might be an inning-ending double play from Miguel Rojas.
Justin Turner fielded the ball and threw a strike to Chris Taylor at second, but the ball clanked off Taylor’s glove and everyone was safe. (It was ruled a throwing error on Turner, but that seems sure to be charged to Taylor on further review.) Anderson walked Brian Anderson to load the bases, and Joey Wendle ripped a double to right field to drive in two runs.
That ended Anderson’s night at 5.1 innings with two runs allowed (one earned). His ERA drops from 2.73 to 2.69, and with the no-decision his record remains at 13-2.
Mookie comes up clutch again (and again) (and then again)
After the Marlins scored two runs to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth, former Dodger Dylan Floro came in to pitch for Miami and was greeted by a Trayce Thompson single and a Mookie home run, putting the Dodgers back on top, 3-2.
Mookie being Mookie. pic.twitter.com/EYXonjgHvG
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 27, 2022
But Mookie wasn’t done yet. He came up in the top of the ninth with the Dodgers again trailing by a run, and he deposited another ball into the seats beyond the left-field wall.
MOOKIE TIE GAME! pic.twitter.com/LA4rpD6sUD
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 27, 2022
Sorry, Mookie still wasn’t done. With one out and runners on first and third in the top of the tenth inning, Betts ripped a full-count double to give the Dodgers a 6-5 lead, later scoring on a Freddie Freeman double.
Mookie Magic in Miami. pic.twitter.com/KTzpOvwb7D
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 27, 2022
The home runs give Betts 29 on the season, and eight of his last eleven have either tied the game or put the Dodgers on top. (The tweet below came after the first one.)
Seven of Mookie Betts' last 10 homers have either given the Dodgers a lead or tied a score. His two-run homer in the seventh gives the Dodgers the 3-2 lead.
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) August 27, 2022
On the night, Mookie extended his team-leading Win Probability Added (WPA), which stood at 2.8 coming into the night.
Bickford makes sure we got the point last time
Phil Bickford imploded in his last appearance on Monday, allowing five baserunners and three runs in the ninth inning to turn a one-run game into an easy win for the Brewers.
With the Dodgers leading 3-2 in the seventh inning on Friday, manager Dave Roberts went back to Bickford to try to get three outs with the bottom of the Marlins order coming up.
It did not work. Bickford allowed two hits, two walks, and two runs in two-thirds of an inning, turning a 3-2 lead into a 4-3 deficit. Bickford’s ERA now sits at 5.36, and it might remain there the rest of the season, as he’s sure to be sent down to Triple-A in the next week and unlikely to get in anything other than a blowout between now and then.
Kimbrel is 5% of the way to breaking Hershiser’s record
Craig Kimbrel pitched the bottom of the eighth inning, having not pitched since Sunday against the Marlins in Los Angeles. He struck out the first two batters, then got a deep fly out on a very nice play by Cody Bellinger in center field.
Since blowing an 11th-inning lead to lose the game in Milwaukee on August 16, Kimbrel has now had three straight scoreless appearances, including two straight 1-2-3 innings.
Roberts said recently the closer role in October will be based on merit, so perhaps a fire has been lit under Kimbrel’s behind.
Up next
The Dodgers and Marlins square off again on Saturday, with Dustin May bringing his new changeup into his second start back from Tommy John surgery to face Sandy Alcantara, whom the Dodgers knocked around on Sunday in L.A.
