The Los Angeles Dodgers completed a sweep of the New York Mets on Jackie Robinson Day despite not having Shohei Ohtani in the lineup for the first time this season.
The two-way star was limited to only pitching due to a bruise in the back of his right shoulder as a result of getting hit by a pitch on Monday night.
Taking Ohtani’s place as the Dodgers’ designated hitter was Dalton Rushing, who had one of the best games of his young career. The 25-year-old went 2-for-4 with a double and grand slam in the Dodgers’ 8-2 win over the Mets, and received high praise from Ohtani after the game.
“Well, I’m not getting used to it. I’ll tell you that,” Rushing said when informed of Ohtani referring to him as a “really good DH.”
“I’m not going to get used to that. Yeah, he told me to hit a homer for him, and I guess it worked out in the end.”
Rushing has made the most of his limited opportunities this season, going 9-for-17 with two doubles, four home runs and eight RBI in five games.
“Feels good just to contribute to a team like this, to feel like you’re every day helping this team win, regardless of the results,” Rushing said. “But it’s a different feeling I had last year, and it feels a little more normal.”
The former top prospect, who posted a meager .582 on-base plus slugging as a rookie, went into further detail about his year-to-year improvement at the plate.
“Yeah, I see a difference this year as to last year,” Rushing began. “There are more thoughts going on in the box, understanding the way the guy in front of me is thinking, the way the guy behind me is thinking.
“And in this game, that’s almost everything. Every hitter that steps up to the plate has the ability to hit whatever pitch type, pitch shape, but as long as you execute it, then you have to put it in your head in the first place.
“And yeah, I was glad I could stay on a changeup there in my first at-bat after chasing one down low. And the results started to show.”
Dalton Rushing succeeding in role
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts previously attributed Rushing’s early success to being more comfortable with his role as backup catcher, and that’s a sentiment the former second-round draft pick agrees with.
“Yeah, for sure,” Rushing said. “I understand my routine a little better. I understand what I need to do to get ready. I understand how much time I need to be ready to play a game, regardless of if I’m DHing, taking an at-bat in the seventh, or starting the game behind the plate.
“But yeah, like I said, I’ve simplified things, and as of now, they’re showing results, and we’re going to ride the wave as long as we can.”
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