Mookie Betts got into it Thursday with San Francisco Giants pitcher Jarlin Garcia over the team’s celebration.
For a few years, Los Angeles Dodgers hitters have celebrated big hits by tapping their head — something that is done by basketball players after big shots.
In the top of the sixth inning of Thursday’s game, Garcia struck out Cody Bellinger for the second out of the inning. Garcia then tapped his head using his left hand. He repeated the gesture after striking out James Outman, directing the gesture to Betts.
An inning later, Trea Turner homered, and Dodgers players responded by doing the gesture. You can see the full sequence in this video:
Here's what happened between the Dodgers/Giants
Jarlin Garcia struck out Cody Bellinger and James Outman, proceeding to do the Dodgers' celebration, directing it at Mookie Betts
Shortly after, Trea Turner homers, as the entire team proceeds to do the celebration pic.twitter.com/XFPlRVxNun
— Blake Harris (@BlakeHHarris) August 4, 2022
Betts acknowledged after the game that the Dodgers did a little extra with their celebration as revenge.
Mookie Betts said there "for sure" was more to LA's celebration after Trea Turner's HR after the García incident: "You started it. I’m not going to back down at that point. I’m not going to run away from it. I’m not going to encourage it, but I’m not going to run away.”
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) August 4, 2022
“You started it. I’m not going to back down at that point. I’m not going to run away from it. I’m not going to encourage it, but I’m not going to run away,” Betts said.
Both Garcia and Giants manager Gabe Kapler were ejected over the incident in the sixth. The Dodgers won the game 5-3 for their first four-game sweep in San Francisco since 1977.
