Mookie Betts has been on an MVP-caliber tear for Dodgers in Marlins series
MIAMI — Mookie Betts’ peaks are so high, even relatively productive stretches at the plate can seem quiet.
That’s where the All-Star right fielder was entering the Dodgers’ weekend series in Miami. He’d been playing well in his return from a foot injury earlier this year, with a .283 batting average and .859 on-base-plus-slugging percentage since the start of July. But he wasn’t on fire either, not all the way.
That’s changed over the last three games against the Marlins.
On Friday, Betts homered twice and then hit a game-winning double in the 10th inning. On Saturday, he went deep again for his 30th home run on the season.
And on Sunday, in an 8-1 win at LoanDepot Park, Betts put his stamp on the afternoon once more.
Final: Dodgers pull away late to beat Marlins 8-1
The Dodgers have guaranteed at least a split in this four-game series with an 8-1 win over the Marlins.
Mookie Betts led the way, going three for five with a home run, a double and two RBIs.
Julio Urías improved to 14-7 with a six-inning, one-run outing.
Max Muncy and Justin Turner also collected three hits apiece, while Trayce Thompson had a home run.
The Dodgers are now 88-38.
Final: Dodgers 8, Marlins 1
Austin Barnes, Mookie Betts key three-run rally to break game open in the sixth
The Dodgers are starting to pull away.
In the top of the sixth, they loaded the bases with two outs to knock starter Edward Cabrera out of the game.
Then, they extended their lead against reliever Tommy Nance on a two-run single by Austin Barnes and RBI single from Mookie Betts.
Betts is now 7 for 14 in the first three games of this series with four home runs and seven RBIs.
Julio Urías, meanwhile, completed six innings of one-run ball. Despite walking a season-high four batters, the home run he gave up in the fourth inning was the only hit he allowed. He also struck out five. His ERA is 2.32.
End 6th: Dodgers lead 6-1
Trea Turner gets hit in the head, but stays in game
Trea Turner was able to stay in the game after a scary-looking moment, when the Dodgers shortstop was hit in the back of the head by a 96 mph pitch during an at-bat in the fifth inning.
Turner initially dropped to the ground after the ball smashed into the back of his helmet. However, he quickly bounced back to his feet, walked up the first base line alongside a trainer, and then stayed in the game.
He stole second base on the very next pitch, though was stranded there.
End 5th: Dodgers lead 3-1
Julio Urías’ first hit allowed is a home run, but Dodgers still lead
After three hitless inning against Julio Urías, the Marlins finally got to the left-hander with a bang.
In the bottom of the fourth, Brian Anderson took Urías deep for a solo home run to left field.
Urías walked a batter later in the inning — his third free pass of the day — but then settled down to retire the side.
End 4th: Dodgers lead 3-1
Dodgers jump in front on home runs from Mookie Betts, Trayce Thompson
The Dodgers bats came to life early on Sunday afternoon.
In the top of the first, Mookie Betts hit the third pitch of the game out to center for a leadoff home run.
It was the 36th such homer of his career, tying Shin-Soo Choo for 11th all-time, and 31st of Betts’ season, one short of his career high.
After a Justin Turner RBI single later in the inning doubled the Dodgers lead, Trayce Thompson tacked on another run in the third, hitting his seventh home run of the season high off the left field foul pole.
Top 2nd: Dodgers lead 3-0
Gavin Lux returns to lineup for early Sunday start against Marlins
MIAMI — For the first time since Monday, Gavin Lux is back in the Dodgers lineup.
Lux had missed the team’s previous four games with neck/upper back issue. He will play second base and bat seventh.
Julio Urías will be on the mound for the early 12:05 pm ET (9:05 am PT) start time, with Sunday’s game being featured on Peacock, NBC’s streaming platform.
Here is the Dodgers full lineup:
ICYMI: Dustin May continues to impress, but Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara outpitches him
MIAMI — The missed ground ball left Dustin May crumpled on the grass.
But in his second start back from Tommy John surgery, it was a curveball he left hanging in the strike zone that signaled — for as promising as he has looked in his return to the team — the fine margins where the right-hander can still progress down the stretch.
Indeed, May largely pitched well in the Dodgers’ 2-1 loss to the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park on Saturday night.
Not well enough to outduel Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara, who bounced back from a six-run clunker against the Dodgers on Sunday by tossing his fourth complete game of a likely Cy Young Award-worthy season.
How to watch and stream the Dodgers this season
Here’s a look at the Dodgers broadcast and streaming schedule for the remainder of the 2022 regular season: