Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts hits his third home run of a baseball game during the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts, right, keeps distance as he celebrates his second home run of a baseball game with third base coach Dino Ebel during the fourth inning against the San Diego Padres, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts, center, celebrates his second home run of a baseball game with Corey Seager as San Diego Padres catcher Austin Hedges looks away during the fourth inning Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)San Diego Padres left fielder Jorge Mateo watches as a ball hit by Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts clears the wall for a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts, center, celebrates his home run with manager Dave Roberts during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts watches the flight of his third home run of a baseball game during the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts hits his third home run of a baseball game during the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
LOS ANGELES – Mookie Betts hit three home runs Thursday night for the sixth time in his career, matching a major league record held by Sammy Sosa and Hall of Famer Johnny Mize.
The star outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers launched a two-run shot in the second inning against the San Diego Padres, then added a solo homer in the fourth and another two-run drive in the fifth.
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With a chance to tie the big league mark of four home runs in one game, Betts reached on an infield single in the seventh.
Betts batted in the leadoff spot, where manager Dave Roberts has been reluctant to lock him in. The 2018 AL MVP said when he was acquired from Boston in a blockbuster trade during the offseason that he thought he'd be hitting leadoff with Los Angeles.
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