LA Sports Hub
Fansided

Dodgers Beat the Streak: Post-Home Run Derby edition

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 23: Logan Forsythe #11 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a ground rule double in front of Chris Iannetta #22 of the Colorado Rockies, to score Justin Turner #10 for a 1-0 lead during the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium on May 23, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 23: Logan Forsythe #11 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a ground rule double in front of Chris Iannetta #22 of the Colorado Rockies, to score Justin Turner #10 for a 1-0 lead during the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium on May 23, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Los Angeles Dodgers had a version of the Home Run Derby on Friday night, slugging five home runs to defeat the Atlanta Braves.

The Los Angeles Dodgers‘ offense was red-hot on Friday night. Los Angeles scored seven runs, five of which came from solo home runs. While the Dodgers are continuing the running gag of hitting way too many solo shots, five home runs in one game is quite the showing.

Neither Sarah or I picked anyone that got a home run in the contest. However, we did pick two hitters that were instrumental in putting the first run on the board for the Dodgers.

I went with Matt Kemp, who laced a two-strike single into right-center in the first inning. That would be Kemp’s only hit, as he went on to strike out in his next three at-bats.

After a Cody Bellinger walk, Sarah’s pick, Yasiel Puig, drove Kemp in with his own base hit into right-center field. It was also his only hit of a premature night for Puig.

Sarah’s pick — Current streak 6: Logan Forsythe

Tonight, as the Dodgers try and secure (at least) a series win over the Braves, I’m going with Logan Forsythe. I’m picking him for a couple reasons.

The first is that he’s been starting to get hot lately, slowly but surely, and is bound to get a big hit soon. The other reason is pretty simple, he’s the only current Dodger with an average against tonight’s starter for Atlanta, Aníbal Sánchez. That average, in fact, is pretty good.

In seven career AB’s against the right-hander, Forsythe is hitting a spectacular .714 with one homer and four RBIs. Seven AB’s is a pretty small sample size, but the only other Dodger to have faced Sánchez is Matt Kemp, who’s 0-2.

It’s important to note, while we’re on the topic of averages, that the guys on the first base side of the field have seen Dodgers’ starter Alex Wood really well. Don’t be surprised if you see Braves vet, and catcher Tyler Flowers in the lineup tonight. In 8 ABs, he’s knocked in 5 against the Dodgers southpaw. Freddie Freeman has also seen Wood pretty well, going 4-8.

I’m still putting my faith in Forsythe and Dodgers, though. I mean, isn’t having faith, unwavering or not, in a team one of the biggest aspects of being a fan? Wood hasn’t been strong this season, and Forsythe hasn’t been hot, yet still, this team is on fire.

Forsythe had a couple good walk-off knocks last season and who knows, he could be the hero the Dodgers need tonight.

Jason’s pick — Current streak 1: Chris Taylor

Chris Taylor initially was set to get the night off as Enrique Hernandez assumed starting shortstop duties. However, after Puig left the game with what many thought was an injury (Dave Roberts later chalked it up as an “in-house” thing), Taylor was slid into the lineup.

Taylor went hitless in two at-bats and was probably bummed out to be missing out on the home run fun. We all know how much Taylor loves to blast leadoff home runs into the left-field pavilion.

Next: 2018 Dodgers feel like 2016 Dodgers

That is why Chris Taylor is going to blast a home run of his own tonight to make up for the lost ground he had on Friday.

Home/Los Angeles Dodgers