Mookie Betts jogged around the Oracle Park in celebration last night, as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated their arch-rivals. In the NLDS five-game series, Dodgers triumphed over the San Francisco Giants.

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The oldest MLB rivals faced each other for the first time in centuries. Notably, the Dodgers escalated their way to the NLCS, winning the last match by 2-1. 

Mookie Betts praised his team

While the San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers are decade-old rivals, there was recent bad blood between the two. Dodgers had missed out on the division title by a whisker, as Giants had 107 wins, whereas Dodgers had 106 wins. 

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However, on Thursday, Dodgers sought redemption, knocking Giants out of the season; Mookie Betts played a pivotal role in their victory. Betts became the only Dodgers player in the history to go 4-for-4 in a winner-take-all postseason. 

 Mookie Betts

USA Today via Reuters

Undoubtedly, the much-awaited post-season clash between the rivals was intense. As none of the two were ready to give up, the series went on until the fifth game. 

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Mookie Betts revealed the secret of his team winning over the Giants. He said, “We were down, but we didn’t give up. We can win close games. There weren’t any high-scoring games in this one. It was important to know we can win these one-run games.”

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Entering the post-season, the Giants were the favorites to reach the World Series in 2021. Giants had secured the most number of wins on the road to playoffs. 

Further reflecting on his team, he said, “Sometimes we are put there, we don’t really just panic, continue playing the game. We always do, it seems to work.”

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Betts’ post-season record 2021

While he clinched the historical record for Dodgers, he also secured a personal best. He became the fourth player in MLB history with at least four hits and a stolen base in a winner-take-all postseason. 

USA Today via Reuters

Dodgers will now escalate to the NLCS and face Atlanta Braves. Do you think they can eliminate the Braves to reach the World Series?

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Also read: “Not High Up on My List”: Boston Red Sox Star Slams Houston Astros

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Shreya Verma

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Shreya Verma is a US Sports Content Strategist at EssentiallySports, with a focus on Olympic sports and athlete storytelling, covering beats like tennis, gymnastics, basketball, track and field, wrestling, and more. A qualified National Level air pistol shooter, she brings the unique perspective of both an athlete and a journalist to her work. Over the past four years at EssentiallySports, she has covered some of the biggest sporting stages, from managing the Olympic Sports desk during the Winter Olympics 2022 to spearheading the US Open 2025 coverage and content strategy. In 2024, she was on the ground in Paris for the Summer Olympics, where she interviewed legends and rising stars, including Carl Lewis, Laurie Hernandez, Fred Kerley, Noah Lyles, Quincy Hall, and Grant Holloway, who memorably offered her the chance to try on his gold medal. She also connected with icons and fan favorites such as Tom Brady, Katie Ledecky, Tara Davis & Hunter Woodhall, Andy Murray, Ilona Maher, Kevon Williams, Jonathan Owens, and Neeraj Chopra, while capturing emotional family perspectives from Nellie Biles, Jordan Chiles’ mother, Suni Lee’s mother, and Katie Ledecky’s brother, Michael. Her journalism is marked by authenticity, access, and a deep passion for highlighting perseverance and human connection in sports. Inspired by Olympic champions like Allyson Felix and Vincent Hancock, Shreya continues to carve her path as a storyteller.

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