Dodgers take lead after Betts homer

Mookie Betts delivered a clutch eighth inning homer to lift the Dodgers past the Padres and reclaim first in the NL West.

Betts lifts Dodgers with late eighth inning homer

Betts delivered the decisive blow in the eighth inning, turning a 4-4 game into a 5-4 Dodgers lead with a solo homer off closer Robert Suarez. Freeman and Pages opened the scoring in the first with two homers to give LA a 4-0 edge, but Tyler Glasnow faded after two strong innings and the bullpen allowed two runs in the sixth and eighth to let the Padres back in. The Dodgers used five relievers in the final outs, showing how thin the margin can be in a pennant race.

Betts had endured a season-long slump, battling low power and a struggling on-base percentage. He adjusted by focusing on helping the team every night rather than chasing numbers, with input from manager Dave Roberts and his wife. A recent eight-game hitting streak hinted at a rebound, and this moment could mark a turning point as the Dodgers maintain a two-game lead in the NL West.

This moment shows how a single swing can shift a season and how leadership matters as much as technique. Betts's season slump exposed the mental side of hitting, and his willingness to adjust a mindset as well as mechanics underscores the human side of a long season.

For the Dodgers, the episode tests depth and resolve. The bullpen's cost of control remains a risk, and the club will need more consistent contributions from the lineup if they want to sustain a run at the postseason. Still, the win is a reminder that resilience matters in baseball and the best teams find ways to win even when a game seems to slip away.

Highlights

Momentum matters in a crowded pennant race