ARLINGTON, Texas — Mookie Betts ranged back, felt the warning track underneath his feet, exploded vertically, twisted his body the other way and made a miraculous, full-extension catch up against the right-field fence, ending the top of the fifth, robbing Braves slugger Marcell Ozuna of extra bases, saving a run and potentially altering the momentum of Game 6 in this National League Championship Series.
Betts’ play, preserving a 3-0 lead by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday afternoon, came less than 24 hours after his shoestring catch on Dansby Swanson‘s sinking line drive changed the course of Game 5. Betts high-stepped and yelled “Let’s go!” after coming down with his latest highlight-reel play. Walker Buehler balled his right hand in a fist and raised it to the sky near the pitcher’s mound.
The best play you’ll see today. Betts on it. pic.twitter.com/fhvBGbr4I1
— MLB (@MLB) October 17, 2020
Anyone who doesn’t think this is a spectacular catch — momentum going backward, leaping high into a wall, having the body control and wherewithal to track the ball — is just wrong. Add in context — potential elimination game, a run would’ve scored — and it’s that much better. https://t.co/lsBjy6xcZG
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 17, 2020
ANOTHER RIDICULOUS SNAG FROM MOOKIE ? #SCtop10
(via @MLB) pic.twitter.com/dE7EKEKtv6
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 17, 2020
Hey LA! See that catch? You’d better damn well treasure Mookie. Worst mistake we made since selling The Babe to the Yankees.
— Bob Ryan (@GlobeBobRyan) October 17, 2020
If the Dodgers come back and win this series, and eliminate an Atlanta Braves team that held a 3-1 series lead, Betts’ catch might live on forever.
