Dodgers Interview: Mookie on Teoscar’s Blast, May’s Gem, and the Art of Preparation
"It's a big boost."
LOS ANGELES — After the Dodgers’ gritty 3-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night, Mookie Betts stood at his locker and gave voice to what fans watching already knew: this was a team effort—highlighted by a star stepping up, a pitcher coming through, and a group of veterans making just the right adjustments.
Facing Corbin Burnes, one of the game’s elite arms, Betts acknowledged just how tough the challenge was.
“Burnes was excellent tonight,” he said. “I mean, he still went seven innings, so it’s not like he did much wrong. He was mixing it up really, really well.”
But by the third time through the order, the Dodgers finally cracked the code. Miguel Rojas got it going with an infield single. Betts followed, sneaking a ground ball through the left side. Then Teoscar Hernández delivered the moment that changed everything—an upper-deck, three-run homer off a hanging slider.
“Teo definitely came up huge,” Betts said. “He just does things like this. That’s the beauty of having him back.”
Hernández’s return has been a clear boost for the lineup, and Betts didn’t downplay the impact.
“It just makes our lineup a lot longer,” he explained. “It makes it tougher to navigate through. When you have a guy like that in the middle who can do damage, it changes the way teams pitch us.”
But it wasn’t just about offense. The Dodgers were finally able to give Dustin May the kind of support he’s been missing. May went six strong innings, giving up just one run while showing the best command he’s had all season.
“It was huge,” Betts said. “A game like that, any guy’s going to need a win out of it. Especially with where our bullpen’s at—it meant a lot that he was able to come up big for us.”
For a team that’s had its share of frustration in close games lately, back-to-back wins to close out the homestand were a relief. The Dodgers now head into a six-game road trip against the Mets and Phillies on firmer footing.
“Any wins are big,” Betts said. “But especially against teams in our division. They all feel like rivals. So to grab these two before going on the road—it’s a big boost. We’ve got two really good teams ahead, and it’ll be fun.”
As for Betts himself, his move to shortstop has been under the microscope all season, but the early returns have been impressive. Defensive metrics are trending in his favor, and his ability to handle the position has surprised even some of his biggest supporters.
So what’s been the difference?
“Preparation,” Betts said plainly. “You’ve got to prepare. I actually have an idea of what I’m doing this year. Last year, I was just hoping athleticism would be enough. That doesn’t work at this level.”
He credits daily early work and a focused routine.
“I’m out there early every day. I’m doing what I can to be successful and help the team win.”
That last sentence might sum up the Dodgers’ recent stretch best. With players like Betts leading by example, Hernández coming through in the clutch, and May delivering when it mattered most, this team is starting to look like the contender they were built to be.
Next stop: New York. And if the Dodgers keep executing like this, October won’t feel nearly as far away.
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