NLCS: Mookie Betts swings the Dodgers closer to the World Series

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NLCS Game 4: Mookie Betts swings the Dodgers closer to the World Series

by Megan Garcia

It wasn't long ago that Mookie Betts was mired in a postseason hitting slump that extended into a third postseason.

That's history. And so was he on Thursday, as he created a few postseason milestones.

He went 4-for-6 with a home run, double, four RBI and three runs scored in the Dodgers' 10–2 win in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series in New York.

Betts' four RBI set a postseason career high for the former MVP, while his four hits matched a career high that he set in 2021 during Game 5 of the NLDS.

"I can't really describe it, but I felt pretty good," Betts said of how he has felt lately in the batter's box. "It's good to feel good. It's good to help the team."

Betts began the postseason 0-for-6 against the Padres, making him hitless in his last 22 at-bats in the postseason going back to Game 3 of the 2022 NLDS.

Since then, Betts is hitting .333 (10-for-30) with 10 RBI and three home runs. He's recorded six hits and seven RBI in the NLCS, thus far and is slashing .333/.429/.611/1.040.

"It's been fun being able to see him perform really well, obviously being in the situation where I'm on base," Ohtani said. "He looks really good and locked in."

After flying out in the first, Betts singled off Mets starter Jose Quintana in the third. He doubled in his third at-bat against reliever José Buttó to drive in Chris Taylor and Shohei Ohtani in the fourth.

Betts smashed a two-run home run in the sixth inning to left field to give the Dodgers a 7–2 lead.

His fourth and final hit was a single drilled to right field.

"Tonight was certainly a breakout," manager Dave Roberts said. "Even the way he can go backside and hit a line drive to right field. The home run, a breaking ball that he was missing in past series. I think that bled into Mookie's psyche a little bit."

Betts' big Thursday night was part of another offensive explosion for the Dodgers in this series. In their three wins, the Dodgers have score nine, eight and 10 runs.

Now they are one win away from the World Series — which would be the third for Betts in his career. Being this close, it's hard not to think about it, he said.

"I think I've tried to manage those emotions many times. I think you just ride them. You just ride those emotions," he said. "It's tough. I mean, I do it all day, but when the game starts you've got to ride those emotions, embrace them, the highs and the lows. Like I said, I've tried to stay even keeled and all those things. At a time like this, that doesn't really work, so you've just got to jump on the roller coaster and enjoy the ride."

NLCS: Mookie Betts swings the Dodgers closer to the World Series was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.