Betts ties MLB mark with 3 of Dodgers' 6 HRs in rout of Pads

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mookie Betts hit three home runs in a game for the sixth time in his career, matching a major league record, and the Los Angeles Dodgers launched six long balls in all Thursday night during an 11-2 rout of the San Diego Padres.

Betts tied a mark shared by Sammy Sosa and Hall of Famer Johnny Mize. The star outfielder went 4 for 4 with five RBIs and was hit by a pitch in the leadoff spot, where manager Dave Roberts has been reluctant to lock him in.

Betts has mostly batted second in this pandemic-shortened season. The 2018 AL MVP said when he was acquired from Boston in a blockbuster trade last offseason that he thought he’d be hitting leadoff with his new team.

With a chance to tie the big league mark of four home runs in one game, Betts reached on an infield single in the seventh.

The National League's top two home run-hitting teams split the four-game series, with the Dodgers outscoring the Padres 17-2 over the last two.

Julio Urías (2-0) gave up consecutive two-out solo homers to Tommy Pham and Eric Hosmer in the first after the Padres failed to homer for the first time in nine games during a 6-0 loss on Wednesday night.

The Dodgers answered right back in the bottom of the inning to tie it 2-all. Betts was hit by a pitch and scored on Corey Seager's two-run shot to right on an 0-2 pitch from Chris Paddack (2-2). Seager returned after missing five games because of lower back discomfort. AJ Pollock added a go-ahead solo homer with two outs.

Los Angeles scored in each of the first five innings. Betts connected on a two-run shot to left field with two outs in the second for a 5-2 lead.

Pollock's RBI double made it 6-2 in the third.

Austin Barnes and Betts went deep back-to-back in the fourth, extending the Dodgers' lead to 9-2. Barnes' two-run...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Betts-ties-MLB-mark-with-3-of-Dodgers-6-HRs-in-15483270.php