Dodgers Mookie Betts homers twice including walk-off blast after illness: Proud of myself

LOS ANGELES — Mookie Betts is no longer ailing, finally able to keep food down and eating up a storm to pack on the weight he dropped while battling a stomach virus during the first two weeks of the season.And, as the eight-time All-Star reminded everyone, “I’m still good at baseball.”He surely is.The Los Angeles Dodgers star hit two home runs, including a three-run blast in the 10th inning that gave the defending World Series champions a come-from-behind 8-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night.“That was not on my bingo card,” manager Dave Roberts said.“He just does some special things.”The Dodgers are off to a 4-0 start for the first time since 1981, a year they won the World Series.Betts had his third career walk-off homer.

In the eighth, his first homer of the season put the Dodgers in front for the first time.“Right now I’m just having fun hitting 160-pound homers,” he said, smiling.Betts went 3 for 5 with three runs and four RBIs on a night when the Dodgers received their glittering World Series rings.“We were joking around that that first home run he hit was probably his best hope that he’s got right now with all the strength that he’s got,” third baseman Max Muncy said, “but he one-upped it so we were all wrong on that one.”Betts traveled with the team to Japan for their season-opening two-game series with the Chicago Cubs.But he returned early, flying back before ever suiting up because of the virus that caused him to lose about 15 pounds.“I’m at 165 now, so another seven or eight pounds will help me a lot but 10 would be ideal,” he said.How does he plan to gain?“Keep eating.

Just eating all day,” he said.“My chef and wife, both of them are doing enough cooking.

I’m eating during the game.”Betts couldn’t keep any food down when he was feeling his worst and initially not knowing what was wrong added to his stress.So when his game-winning shot off Beau Brieske sailed into the left-field pavili...