Mookie Betts, right, of the Los Angeles Dodgers, reacts next to Red Sox second baseman Pablo Reyes after hitting a double during the sixth inning Friday in Boston. Michael Dwyer/Associated Press
BOSTON — Freddie Freeman had four hits, including a tie-breaking double, Mookie Betts doubled and scored two runs in his return to Fenway Park and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Boston Red Sox 7-4 on Friday night.
Betts, back on the field in Boston for the first time since he was traded by the Red Sox in 2020, was given a standing ovation prior to his first at-bat and went 1 for 4 against the franchise where he spent his first six major league seasons.
Dodgers starter Lance Lynn (10-9) allowed four runs off 10 hits over six innings, plus two batters, yielding two home runs. Evan Phillips allowed a hit and struck out two in the ninth to get his 20th save.
The NL West-leading Dodgers have won five of six. Max Muncy added three RBI, including a two-run double in the seventh inning that made it 6-3.
The Red Sox got one run back in the bottom of the inning when Rafael Devers scored off a throwing error by Muncy. They had two runners on trailing 6-4 in the eighth, but after a single by Alex Verdugo, Connor Wong over ran second base and was caught in rundown and retired.
Nick Pivetta (9-7) allowed four runs over two relief innings to take the loss for Boston, which had won its previous two. Starter Kutter Crawford lasted five innings, plus two batters, yielding two runs off four hits.
Betts popped out in foul territory to lead off the game. Then Verdugo, one of the players Boston acquired for the 2018 AL MVP, opened the bottom half of the inning with a first pitch home run that landed in the right-field bullpen.
Trevor Story made it 3-0 in the second when he bashed a two-run homer into the Green Monster seats in left field.
Betts doubled to lead off the sixth inning and moved to third on a single by Freeman. Crawford was pulled in favor of Pivetta, but it didn’t stop the rally.
Will Smith doubled, scoring Betts. Freeman then scored on a groundout by Muncy, David Peralta grounded out, but Boston couldn’t get out of inning before Kiké Hernández tied it with a single to center.
NOTES: As part of welcoming back Betts to Fenway, the Red Sox showed a highlight video from the 2018 World Series season that also included pitcher Ryan Braiser, now a member of the Dodgers. In addition, Red Sox fans gave a nice ovation during Hernández’s first at-bat. Hernández played for Los Angeles for six seasons before signing with Boston in 2021 in free agency. He was traded back to the Dodgers in July. … Boston DH Justin Turner was a member of the Dodgers’ 2020 World Series teams. The Red Sox claimed RHP Zack Weiss off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels and optioned him to Triple-A Worcester. To make room on the 40-man roster, they transferred RHP Corey Kluber to the 60-day IL.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
