Dodgers All-Star launches 10th leadoff homer of season
There are hot streaks and then there's whatever Mookie Betts is on right now.
The All-Star do-everything infielder/outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers hit his league-leading 10th leadoff home run of the season to kick-start Saturday's game against the Angels, giving the home team the early 1-0 lead at Chavez Ravine.
Not only does Betts lead the majors in that category, but it's already the seventh-most leadoff long balls in the history of baseball and the All-Star break doesn't even begin for another two days.
The single-season record for leadoff bombs stands at 13, set by Alfonso Soriano of the New York Yankees in 2003. Soriano also has the second-most in a season, with 12, accomplished four years later when he was a member of the Chicago Cubs.
Two players have hit 12 in a year (George Springer and Brady Anderson) while two others have done it 11 times (Bobby Bonds and Jacque Jones).
Not only has Betts been hot at the start of games, but Saturday's blast was his ninth home run overall in the last 16 games, including three in his last five at-bats.
With that shot on Saturday, he stands at 26 home runs on the year, good for second in the National League and third overall in MLB, behind only Shohei Ohtani (31) and Pete Alonso (29).
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