A critical umpiring decision involving Mookie Betts in the ninth inning contributed to the Minnesota Twins’ heartbreaking walkoff loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium. The Twins held a narrow 3-2 lead late in the game but could not close it out, suffering a defeat shaped in part by a non-reviewable checked swing call that allowed Betts to stay alive at the plate.
Sequence of Events Leading to the Walkoff
The Twins were positioned to secure their first series win ever at Dodger Stadium. After reliever Jhoan Duran pitched two innings to finish Tuesday’s victory, Griffin Jax entered the ninth to protect the slim lead. Jax quickly recorded two outs on just four pitches, setting up Mookie Betts with a 1-2 count. On a sweeping pitch just outside the strike zone, Betts clearly swung and missed, but first-base umpire Emil Jimenez ruled that Betts had checked his swing, a call that is not subject to video review.
Following the controversial call, Betts singled softly to the left side, extending the inning. The Twins intentionally walked Shohei Ohtani, who had already launched his fifth consecutive game homer, before Jax walked Esteury Ruiz. This brought Freddie Freeman to the plate, who then delivered a line drive to left field that eluded Harrison Bader’s glove, resulting in a two-run walkoff single and a crushing defeat for Minnesota.
Impact of the Missed Call and Team Performance Details
The missed call on Betts’ swing was pivotal, preventing the Twins from sealing a significant series victory. Instead, the team slid back to a 49-53 record and lost valuable momentum. Beyond the umpiring controversy, Griffin Jax’s control challenges contributed significantly, as evidenced by his walk to Ruiz with the bases loaded.
Earlier in the game, Chris Paddack allowed Ohtani’s 37th homer on an 0-2 curveball during the first inning but stabilized afterward, delivering six strong innings with eight strikeouts and only four hits allowed. Royce Lewis continued his impressive stretch, homering off Tyler Glasnow in the third inning to tie the game and doubling in the fifth inning. Over his last four games, Lewis has tallied seven hits, six RBIs, and three home runs, showing his value amid Glasnow’s dominant pitching that included 12 strikeouts over seven innings.
Late Game Rally and Defensive Struggles
The Dodgers took a one-run lead in the bottom of the seventh inning against Twins relievers Danny Coulombe and Louis Varland. Minnesota answered in the eighth inning with a clutch offensive effort. The first three Twins batters walked, and even a bases-loaded double play scored a tying run. Harrison Bader’s well-placed chopper over the head of Alex Vesia brought in Brooks Lee for a go-ahead run, giving Minnesota a 3-2 advantage heading into the ninth.
Despite the positive momentum, Brock Stewart managed to navigate a bases-loaded jam for Los Angeles in the eighth, but Jax was unable to maintain the lead in the ninth, with the questionable umpire ruling playing a key role in the Twins’ failure to close out the contest.
Looking Ahead: Rest and Upcoming Series
After the disappointment in Los Angeles, the Twins will have a day off on Thursday before returning home to face the Washington Nationals this weekend. The outcome of this game highlights the fine margins that teams face in MLB, emphasizing how an umpiring decision—especially on a non-reviewable checked swing—can dramatically influence a game’s result and a team’s season trajectory.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Mookie Betts a billionaire?
A. Mookie Betts’ Net Worth in 2025
Mookie Betts is expected to have around $70 million by 2025. His money decisions have been smart and well-planned. Over time, Betts has become one of the top players in Major League Baseball. His financial choices are mainly focused on ensuring a stable future.
Q. What type of illness does Mookie Betts have?
A. Mookie Betts was absent for some of the season’s start because of a stomach virus, but he wasn’t certain when he got it.
Q. What is around Mookie Betts’ neck?
A. In summary, Mookie thinks of a bat and ball necklace as his lucky charm. A child gifted it to him during spring training, before he became the famous Mookie Betts we admire today.
Q. What happened to the guy that grabbed Mookie Betts?
A. In his first remarks since MLB banned him indefinitely, Austin Capobianco expressed regret over the incident during Game 4 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium. “I’m seen as a hero among Yankees fans but viewed as a villain by others in America,” Capobianco, 38, told Brendan Kuty from The Athletic. “I don’t really mind.”