LOS ANGELES – When Mookie Betts goes, so do the Dodgers. That seemed to be the unofficial slogan for the Dodgers during their 2020 World Series run, and it could very well be it again this season. 

With Betts leading the way by connecting on his fourth homer of the season, the Dodgers sent an emphatic message to the Giants, sweeping the two-game set with a 9-1 win on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium. 

“[Betts] is in the leadoff spot for a reason,” said Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger. “It’s not an easy game, but when he is just getting on base it changes the whole complexion of the lineup.”

Even with such a star-studded lineup, the team is usually at its best when Betts is swinging a hot bat. While that hasn’t always been the case early in the season, the former MVP has found his swing and is now 9-for-22 with two homers during his current six-game hitting streak.

Betts got the Dodgers’ first rally started in the fourth inning with a leadoff single off Giants starter Alex Wood. Freddie Freeman went on to walk, setting the stage for Trea Turner and Will Smith to deliver with a pair of RBI singles.

In the sixth, Betts added a solo homer to give the Dodgers a 3-1 lead.

“Obviously still working and looking and digging and getting some more info on all the mechanics and the mental side and whatnot,” Betts said. “But it’s the best I’ve felt so far [this season].”

Betts scored two of the Dodgers’ nine runs and now is tied for the Major League lead with 23 runs scored. The Dodgers are 12-2 when Betts scores at least one run. They’re also 11-4 when Betts records a hit.

“Credit to Mookie because he hasn’t been hot with the bat, but he still values getting on base and taking walks,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “When he gets on base, good things tend to happen.”

After coming in with a surplus of hype, the Dodgers’ offense has struggled at times this season. With the exception of Freeman and Chris Taylor, every player on the roster has been working on their swing at one point or another.

But what makes this Dodgers lineup dangerous is that it isn’t just a one-man show, and they’re more than capable of performances like this, when eight of the nine starters tallying at least one hit.

Freeman picked up his first triple as a Dodger and leads the team with a .299 batting average. Max Muncy snapped an 0-for-15 slide with a pair of hits, including a two-run homer in the eighth. Justin Turner, who has struggled at the plate, also snapped an 0-for-17 skid of his own. Gavin Lux and Bellinger also combined for three hits on Wednesday. One through nine, the Dodgers were relentless.

“I think we’re capable of this every night,” Betts said. “Obviously, it’s hard to do, but this is just something that hopefully we can get on this little wave and then ride it.”

After their seven-year reign atop the NL West came to an end in ‘21 at the hands of the Giants, the Dodgers said they wouldn’t be taking any games against their longtime rivals lightly, even those in May. The Dodgers are looking to take back their crown. Led by Betts and a potent offense, a message was sent at Dodger Stadium this week.

“I think we’ve played a number of ballgames this year, but I think collectively, this is the best one we’ve played,” Roberts said. “It was just a well-played offensive game."