Mookie Betts homers twice and Dodgers go back-to-back twice in 8th inning of 8-2 win over Giants

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mookie Betts homered twice and the Los Angeles Dodgers went deep four times in the eighth inning of an 8-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Friday night.

Max Muncy and Kyle Tucker connected back-to-back to open the eighth. Betts and Will Smith then homered back-to-back with two outs in a five-run inning as the NL West champions rolled in a series opener between old rivals.

Tyler Glasnow (5-1) allowed two runs and three hits in six innings with a season-high 10 strikeouts. Los Angeles (94-60) is two games behind NL Central champion Milwaukee for the best record in the majors and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

The home run barrage occurred on the 20th anniversary of the Dodgers' famous four-plus-one game. Jeff Kent, J.D. Drew, Russell Martin and Marlon Anderson hit four consecutive homers in the bottom of the ninth inning — the fourth time in major league history the feat had been accomplished.

Nomar Garciaparra then launched a two-run homer in the 10th for an 11-10 victory over San Diego after Los Angeles trailed 9-5 when Kent came to bat leading off the ninth.

Philip Abner gave up all five runs in the eighth, which began with the Dodgers leading 3-2. He became the second reliever in Giants history to serve up four homers in one inning.

The Giants (64-90) lost their 90th game, their most since 2017 when they dropped 98.

Muncy’s shot traveled 420 feet and Tucker’s went 403 feet, both to right-center. Betts also homered leading off the game.

Josue De Paula, a 21-year-old Dodgers rookie finishing his first week in the major leagues, lined a two-out double to right field for the go-ahead run in the sixth. He also singled and scored the tying run on Teoscar Hernández’s RBI single in the fifth.

Edwin Díaz struck out two in a scoreless ninth in his return from the injured list.

The Giants tied the game at 1 on Jung Hoo Lee's leadoff homer in the second and went ahead 2-1 on Jonah Cox's RBI single with two outs in the third.

Giants starter Cesar Perdomo gave up two runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings with one strikeout. Jason Foley (3-2) took the loss in relief.

Giants first baseman Bryce Eldridge was a late scratch with a head laceration.

The Giants had yet to announce a starter for Saturday against Dodgers LHP Tarik Skubal (10-7, 2.70 ERA).

This story corrects the sequence of Dodgers home runs in the second paragraph to show Will Smith hit their fourth homer of the eighth inning.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

San Francisco Giants' Jung Hoo Lee is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts, right, hits a solo home run as San Francisco Giants pitcher Cesar Perdomo, left, and catcher Drew Cavanaugh watch during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts scores after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts gestures after hitting a two-run home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is progressing with his swing while on the injured list, although the Los Angeles Dodgers' designated hitter has yet to face pitching or the Trajekt machine.

“He's not there yet,” manager Dave Roberts said Friday, “but everything I've heard, it's been a really productive last three to four to five days. He's in a good spot.”

Ohtani reunited with the team after its seven-game trip culminated in the Dodgers clinching the NL West title for the 13th time in 14 years with a win at Cincinnati on Thursday.

Ohtani went on the IL just before the road trip with lingering pain in his right biceps, left leg and neck. He stayed back in Los Angeles to receive treatment and hit off a tee for the first time Tuesday.

He's eligible to return on Wednesday, during the Dodgers’ final home series against San Diego.

Roberts said he'd like Ohtani to get 10 to 12 at-bats against pitching before he returns to the lineup.

“It's what he feels good with, what gets him ready,” Roberts said.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, center, looks on during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)