Betts has 5 hits, then Hernández homers and doubles twice as Dodgers beat Guardians 6-1 and 9-3
Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts celebrates hitting a two-run double during the eighth inning in the continuation of a suspended baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, in Cleveland. The game was suspended the night before due to inclement weather. Credit: AP/Nick Cammett
CLEVELAND — Mookie Betts matched his career high with five hits in the completion of a suspended game and Kiké Hernández homered and doubled twice in the scheduled game to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Cleveland Guardians 6-1 and 9-3 on Thursday.
Betts singled four times in the first six innings in the early game and had a two-run double in the eighth for the NL West-leading Dodgers, who are 19-3 in August. The seven-time All-Star, who also had five hits for Boston against Kansas City on Aug. 26, 2016, had three RBIs on the day. Betts was 9 for 11 in the three-game series and is batting .568 during a 12-game hitting streak.
Hernández had four hits and four RBIs on the day.
Michael Busch hit his first major league homer in the scheduled game as the Dodgers rallied from a 2-0 deficit. Busch and James Outman had two RBIs apiece, and Freddie Freeman went 2 for 4.
Ryan Pepiot (1-0) allowed one run in four innings for Los Angeles. Rookie Gavin Williams (1-5) gave up a season-high seven runs in 4 1/3 innings and is winless in eight straight starts.
Gabriel Arias hit a solo homer and scored on a double-steal with Will Brennan for the Guardians, who went 2-5 on an eight-day homestand that featured manager Terry Francona contemplating his retirement at the end of the season.
Los Angeles led the suspended game 3-1 lead after two innings Wednesday when heavy rain forced play to be suspended after 1 hour, 37 minutes.
Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts hits a two-run double during the eighth inning in the continuation of a suspended baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, in Cleveland. The game was suspended the night before due to inclement weather. Credit: AP/Nick Cammett
Gus Varland (1-0) worked 1 1/3 innings for his first big league win as seven pitchers combined for a four-hitter. Guardians starter Xzavion Curry (3-2) gave up three runs in two innings.
HOMECOMING
Guardians C Eric Haase, who was claimed off waivers from Detroit on Monday, appeared in his first game with the franchise since 2019. He went 1 for 4 after batting .201 with four homers and 26 RBIs for the Tigers.
Haase was a seventh-round pick by Cleveland in the 2011 amateur draft but only played in 19 major league games before being designated for assignment eight years later.
Cleveland Guardians' José Ramírez throws out Los Angeles Dodgers' Will Smith at first base during the third inning in the continuation of a suspended baseball game, Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, in Cleveland. The game was suspended the night before due to inclement weather. Credit: AP/Nick Cammett
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: RHP Walker Buehler (Tommy John surgery) is throwing against hitters in one-inning simulated situations at the team’s training complex in Glendale, Arizona.
Guardians: C Cam Gallagher (concussion) was activated from the 7-day injured list between games. Rookie SS Brayan Rocchio was optioned to Triple-A Columbus.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: RHP Lance Lynn (9-9, 5.60 ERA) makes his fifth start for Los Angeles in the opener of a three-game series in Boston. Lynn is 3-0 with a 1.44 ERA since being acquired from the White Sox.
Guardians: RHP Tanner Bibee (9-3, 3.01 ERA) pitches the first game of a three-game series in Toronto. Bibee is tied for first among AL rookies in victories with Houston’s Hunter Brown and J.P. France.
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