Steve Webb
NEW YORK, NY — After leading the Dodgers to a 10-2 victory over the Mets in Game 4 of the NLCS, Mookie Betts shared his thoughts on his stellar performance, which included four hits and a home run that extended the team’s lead to 7-2. “I can’t really describe it,” Betts said of his night at the plate, adding, “I felt pretty good, you know, it’s good to feel good. It’s good to help the team.” He credited the pitching staff for keeping the Mets off the board and making the win even more enjoyable.
Reflecting on teammate Tommy Edman‘s big night in the cleanup spot, Betts praised the Dodgers’ lineup flexibility, stating, “That’s the beauty of our team—it can change, but whoever’s in the lineup is good. They’re going to follow the plan, they want to win, and that’s why we are up 3-1 right now.” He also acknowledged the extra swings he’d been taking lately, noting that while not everything has clicked, “Some worked today, but tomorrow’s a new day. I’ll come work and try and find the same feel.”
When asked about the Mets potentially avoiding Shohei Ohtani after his game-opening home run, Betts said, “No, no, no, no. By no means.” He pointed out that Ohtani went through a stretch without seeing pitches near the strike zone, but added, “It’s going to be tough to just walk him all the time, especially with the lineup and the guys we have. Freddie [Freeman] didn’t even play as well, so we’ll see if they want to continue to do it.”
The Dodgers’ offensive strategy has been to keep pressure on the Mets’ pitching staff by drawing walks and executing their game plan. “Our coaches do a really good job in preparing us,” Betts explained. “The guys, we all believe in them, we believe in each other. Whether the plan is right or wrong doesn’t really matter, it’s just at least we follow the plan no matter what, and it’s been right so far.”
Betts also shared how he deals with the pressures of postseason play, especially in the digital age. “It’s tough to really get away from everything because everyone’s watching,” he admitted. “Family, friends, you guys, everybody is watching, and while I’m doing this, I’m talking, so there’s no real way to get away from it.” To stay grounded, Betts revealed he deleted social media and spends time with his family. “Sometimes I just go into the locker room and just sit by myself to get away from all the things that are going on,” he added, describing it as a way to “reset.”
Regarding the emotional roller coaster of playoff baseball, Betts shared, “I think you just ride them. It’s tough. I may not do it all day, but when the game starts, you just got to ride those emotions, embrace them, the highs and the lows.” He concluded, “In a time like this, trying to stay even-keeled doesn’t really work, so you just got to jump on the roller coaster and enjoy the ride.”
The Dodgers, now just one win away from the World Series, will look to Betts and the rest of the team to continue their strong play in Game 5.
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