Mookie Betts overcomes mystery illness to carry Dodgers in walk-off win

That was hardly the biggest moment of the night for the All-Star outfielder. Betts came to the plate again in the bottom of the 10th inning with one out and runners on second and third. He turned on a 3-2 pitch and blasted a walk-off, three-run homer to left field.

Under normal circumstances, the heroics would have merely been an example of Betts being Betts. What made Friday night's performance so special is that Betts has been battling a mystery illness since two days before the Dodgers traveled to Japan for the Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs, which was played on March 18 and 19.

Betts has dealt with some sort of stomach illness that has prevented him from being able to eat solid foods without vomiting. He explained on Sunday that he has lost roughly 25 pounds and been afraid to eat.

Friday's performance suggests Betts is feeling a lot better.

"That was super special. I know it sounds super selfish, but more for me. I was really proud of myself for coming in and playing underweight," Betts said, via ESPN's Alden Gonzalez. "Not that it's a big deal playing underweight, but just the fight that I've kind of been through — the ups and downs, and the nights I'm just crying because I'm sick, and my wife's there holding me. That's where the emotion comes from."

Betts had said he was down to 150 pounds last week. He told reporters after his walk-off heroics that he is "having fun hitting 160-pound homers" at the moment, so it sounds as though he has gained back at least some of the weight he lost.

The situation with Betts was scary for a while, which is why his two-homer performance was such a welcome sight.