The Los Angeles Dodgers had a version of the Home Run Derby on Friday night, slugging five home runs to defeat the Atlanta Braves.
TheLos 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 withMatt 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 aCody Bellingerwalk, 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 withLogan 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’ starterAlex Woodreally well. Don’t be surprised if you see Braves vet, and catcherTyler Flowersin the lineup tonight. In 8 ABs, he’s knocked in 5 against the Dodgers southpaw.Freddie Freemanhas 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 Taylorinitially was set to get the night off asEnrique Hernandezassumed starting shortstop duties. However, after Puig left the game with what many thought was an injury (Dave Robertslater 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.
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