Mookie Betts ended his 0-for-22 playoff slump with a home run on Tuesday night, but he seemed to think that left fielder Jurickson Profar from the San Diego Padres had robbed him again during Game 3 of the NL Division Series.
Betts’ home run gave the Dodgers a brief 1-0 lead. However, Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a big two-run homer in a six-run second inning, and the Padres won 6-5, taking a 2-1 lead in the series. The Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernández also hit a grand slam in the third inning.
Game 4 will take place on Wednesday night.
In the first inning at Petco Park, Betts hit a fly ball toward the left-field corner, similar to a hit he had at Dodger Stadium on Sunday night when Profar jumped into the crowd to catch it.
After making that catch, Profar teased the fans by staring at them and bouncing up and down before throwing the ball to the infield.
On Tuesday night, Profar jumped again but couldn’t catch the ball, which tipped off his glove and went into the stands. Betts rounded first base and looked toward the dugout before he reached second. His teammates, including Max Muncy, encouraged him to keep going.
Even Padres pitcher Michael King signaled that the ball was fair.
Betts continued his run, putting the Dodgers ahead 1-0. This was his first playoff hit since Game 3 of the 2022 NLDS against San Diego, which the Padres won in four games.
Game 2 was paused for 12 minutes when excited fans threw baseballs at Profar and then tossed trash onto the field.
