Mookie Betts leaves with hip discomfort in Dodgers’ loss over Angels

Mookie Betts left Friday’s game with right hip discomfort, after providing the bulk of the Dodgers offense in a series-opening 4-3, 10-inning loss to the Angels at Dodger Stadium.

That’s 11 straight losses in extra innings for the Dodgers, who fall to 1-12 in such games this season. But the bigger loss might have come earlier.

Betts was running the bases gingerly in the first inning after a single. He advanced to third on a double by Justin Turner, and scored on a groundout by Albert Pujols, then limped on his way back to the dugout.

“Mookie is in some pain. He’s gimping back to the dugout,” Orel Hershiser observed on the SportsNet LA broadcast. “Mookie had to come from home to the dugout, Albert had to come all the way from behind first to the dugout, and they arrived at the same time. That’s the speed Mookie used to get back in the dugout.”

After some talk with trainer Yosuke Nakajima in the dugout, Betts remained in the game and even drove in the Dodgers’ second run with a two-out single in the fourth inning.

Betts played six innings in right field, his first time at the position since July 17. Betts spent time on the injured list with right hip inflammation, missing 11 consecutive games and was limited to just one pinch-hit plate appearance in a 13-game span. After getting activated from the IL on Sunday, Betts played three games at second base before switching back to his customary outfield spot.

On Wednesday, Betts reiterated that his hip only bothers him while running. “It really doesn’t hurt me too much swinging,” he said.

Surrounding the hip injury, Betts has a hit in each of his last eight starts, including seven multi-hit games in that stretch, hitting an absurd .559/.610/1.206 (19 for 34) with 17 runs scored since July 10.

The right Price

David Price pitched into the sixth inning for the second time this season, giving up only two runs, solo home runs from two of his last four batters faced to erase an early 2-0 lead. The equalizer was hit by pinch-hitter Jack Mayfield, an infielder that has been designated for assignment three times since February — by the Braves, Mariners, and Angels — but has seven home runs in 71 plate appearances in his second go-around this year with the Halos, including three homers in his last four games.

Price only allowed three other hits and no walks, but still got some help from catcher Austin Barnes in otherwise keeping the Angels off the board.

David Fletcher led off the fourth with a ground-rule double off someone’s head in the left field pavilion, the first hit of the game against Price. But with one out, Fletcher wandered off the bag and appeared to try a delayed steal, only to be picked off at second by Barnes.

In the fifth inning, Juan Lagares singled with two outs, and inexplicably, with pitcher Patrick Sandoval batting, was thrown out trying to steal second by Barnes.

Extra-inning woes

It was Iglesias and Mayfield who struck in the 10th for the Angels. Iglesias doubled off Garrett Cleavinger to score the free runner from second base, then Mayfield blooped a single off Max Muncy’s glove in short right field to score the second run.

The Dodgers have allowed at least one run in 14 consecutive extra innings, dating back to April 25.

The game got to extras thanks in part to Austin Warren, pitching in just his fourth major league game, recorded seven outs and allowed only a single to get the game through nine for his first major league win.

Raisel Iglesias allowed two singles in the 10th, and allowed one run to score on a sacrifice fly to the warning track by Corey Seager. But he got an AJ Pollock groundout to end it, leaving the tying and winning runs on base.

Cleavinger took the loss, his fourth in extra innings this season.

Friday particulars

Home runs: José Iglesias (8), Jack Mayfield (7)

WP — Austin Warren (1-0): 2⅓, 1 hit

LP — Garrett Cleavinger (2-4): ⅓ IP, 1 hit, 2 runs (1 earned), 1 (intentional) walk

Sv — Raisel Iglesias (24): 1 IP, 2 hits, 1 unearned run, 1 strikeout

Up next

Julio Urías starts the middle game of the series on Saturday (6:10 p.m., SportsNet LA), on five days rest. The Angels will counter with right-hander Jaime Barria.