The Los Angeles Dodgers had multiple players start both games of Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Arizona Diamondbacks, including Trea Turner, who had a key part in their 12-3 win during the nightcap.
The Dodgers quickly erased a 2-0 deficit in the first inning when Freddie Freeman doubled and Turner tied the game on his two-run single. Gavin Lux gave L.A. a decided lead in the bottom of the second by clearing the bases with a double to left field.
After Turner reached on an error that brought in a run in the sixth inning, he was replaced on the bases by Hanser Alberto. With the Dodgers holding a comfortable lead come the ninth, Alberto was tasked with becoming their latest position player to pitch, in some part due to Turner’s minor injury.
“It’s one of those things with a three-man bench, you just don’t have many options in a game like that,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained. “Trea’s calf has been barking a little bit, so I wanted to get him out of the game, so then you’re down to two guys that play every day.
“So just trying to figure out how in this stretch you can save an arm. Had David (Price) up early because he hadn’t pitched in quite some time, but felt there’s still an opportunity to have him [Wednesday].
“I talked to Hanser on the bench and he said, ‘Hey, I can pitch.’ So at that point in time I just felt with a good lead, to potentially save an arm. He was very excited.”
Roberts downplayed the severity of Turner’s calf injury, noting he has been moving well and is “definitely playable.” Turner and Freeman are the only Dodgers to start every game this season.
Cody Bellinger also was part of that group until he received his first day off in the series opener against the Diamondbacks.
Trea Turner streaking
After going a combined 3-for-8 with one home run and five RBI, Turner extended his hitting streak to 10 games. It’s unclear when he began experiencing calf trouble, but Turner has fared well in the month of May, batting .286/.366/.413 with five doubles, one home run and 10 RBI.
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