CHICAGO — On Wednesday night time, Los Angeles Dodgers megastar Mookie Betts was once slumbering in a medical institution room in California. Twenty-four hours then — later the arriving of his fresh child boy — he was once taking part in shortstop for the primary hour in his profession later arriving at Wrigley Ground all through the primary inning of the Dodgers’ eventual 6-2 win over the Chicago Cubs.
“It was like a dream come true,” Betts mentioned later on. “I got drafted as a shortstop and hadn’t seen it since like 2011. I’m happy we won.”
Betts pinch accident within the lead of the 7th inning for Luke Williams, singling to proper ground earlier than taking on at shortstop for the left-overs of the sport.
His first play games was once a weighty one. With the sport connect 2-2 within the base of the 8th, the Cubs had runners on first and 2nd without a outs when Patrick Wisdom accident a garden ball at the back of 2nd bottom. Betts grabbed it, stepped on 2nd and made a bounce throw to first for the 6-3 double play games.
“He made it look really easy and athletic,” supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned.
Betts added: “Grew up doing this, so it’s not new to me. It’s new to everyone else.”
Wind Mookie. pic.twitter.com/YxPxyj1xl1
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 21, 2023
The Dodgers took the manage within the 9th on a James Outman elegant slam, his 2nd house run of the sport. It got here later starter Michael Grove needed to let go within the fourth inning as a result of a groin pressure, which first happened when he slipped within the bullpen all through warm-ups. He’ll go through checking out on Friday and be positioned at the injured checklist.
“It was a 3 out of 10, but you’re talking about a pitcher,” Roberts mentioned of the shock. “He assured us he was good to go but in that fourth inning, felt it again. We just wanted to pull the plug right there.”
Grove didn’t really feel the shock was once critical both.
“It’s nothing crazy,” he said. “Just a little groin issue.”
Roberts didn’t bargain the opportunity of bringing righty Tony Gonsolin (ankle) again from his rehab stint to fill Grove’s spot nor did he point out Betts can be heading again to the outfield.
“I think that’s his goal in life, to be a major league shortstop,” Roberts mentioned with a grin. “I could see it happening more.”
In reality, with Miguel Rojas (hamstring) at the IL and Gavin Lux (ACL) misplaced for the season, Betts may to find himself within the infield a accumulation extra. He was once requested if he had any nerves taking part in the location for the primary hour in a decade.
“A lot of nerves but you embrace it,” he spoke back. “You learn to play nervous. If I wasn’t nervous that probably means I don’t love it. … I don’t care where I play. I just want to win.”
