Mookie Betts’ Five Hits Send Dodgers Past Guardians in Opener 6–1

Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts, left, and Freddie Freeman laugh during the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland on Aug. 24, 2023. Nick Cammett/AP Photo

Mookie Betts delivered his second career five-hit game and drove in two runs as the Los Angeles Dodgers earned a 6–1 victory over the host Cleveland Guardians on Thursday, August 24, in the resumption of a contest that was suspended in the third inning Wednesday because of rain.

The Dodgers mounted all the offense they needed on Wednesday before weather arrived, then added more offense before a one-hour, 13-minute rain delay paused the game further in the ninth inning.

Betts and Freddie Freeman opened the contest Wednesday with back-to-back singles off Guardians starter Xzavion Curry. Will Smith’s sacrifice fly scored Betts, then Max Muncy doubled to send Freeman to third.

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 in Cleveland on Aug. 24, 2023. Nick Cammett/AP Photo

A two-out Enrique Hernandez double scored both Freeman and Muncy. Hernandez went 1-of-3 and drew a pair of walks.

Los Angeles wasted little time picking up where it left off before Wednesday’s suspension. Freeman singled in the fourth off of Eli Morgan to drive in Miguel Rojas, extending the lead to 4–1.  Freeman had three hits.

Los Angeles tacked on two more in the eighth inning when Betts delivered a two-run double off the left-field wall.

Cleveland struggled at the plate after Jose Ramirez’s first-inning home run off of Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw.

Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland on August 23, 2023. Jason Miller/Getty Images

The Guardians combined for just four hits against seven different Los Angeles pitchers. Gus Varland (1–0) earned his first major league win, striking out three over 1 1/3 innings. The Dodgers’ Ryan Brasier had three strikeouts after Kershaw fanned four Wednesday in two innings.

Curry (3–2) took the loss as seven Guardians pitchers surrendered a total of 14 hits, including five off of Curry and four off of Tim Herrin, who also gave up a pair of runs.

Dodgers Place DH J.D. Martinez (groin) on IL

The Los Angeles Dodgers placed All-Star designated hitter J.D. Martinez on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, August 22, because of groin tightness, as he continues to struggle with lower abdomen and leg discomfort.

In a corresponding move, the Dodgers recalled infielder Michael Busch from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Martinez, 36, has been bothered most of the past month with what has been described as anywhere from groin to hamstring to lower back discomfort. Martinez referenced his adductors in a recent interview.

One of four All-Stars at the top of the Dodgers’ order, Martinez is batting .256 with 25 home runs and 78 RBIs in 92 games this season. He is batting .262 with three home runs and 16 RBIs since the All-Star break, while playing in 19 of the Dodgers’ 34 games in the second half.

In 13 major league seasons, the six-time All-Star is a career .286 hitter with 307 home runs and 977 RBIs in 1,501 games for the Houston Astros (2011–13), Detroit Tigers (2014–17), Arizona Diamondbacks (2017), Boston Red Sox (2018–22) and Dodgers.

Busch, 25, batted .200 with four RBIs in 15 games for the Dodgers earlier this season after making his major league debut April 25. In 88 games at Oklahoma City this season, he is batting .323 with 24 home runs and 82 RBIs.

The Dodgers also sent right-hander Blake Treinen on a rehab assignment to the Arizona Complex League. Treinen, 35, has not pitched this season after shoulder surgery in November. In nine seasons, he is 36–31 with a 2.86 ERA and 79 saves in 449 appearances (seven starts) with three teams.