Despite being no-hit through the first 5.2 innings of Tuesday’s matchup against the San Diego Padres, the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied late to pull out a 5-2 win and even up the series at Petco Park.
The comeback was made possible in part by AJ Pollock, who came up big with two clutch hits off the bench. Pinch-hitting for Joc Pederson in the seventh, he delivered a go-ahead RBI single that gave the Dodgers a 3-2 lead.
Two innings later, Pollock added some insurance in the form of a solo home run — his third of the season — to extend the Dodgers’ lead to 5-2.
After the game, Pollock offered an update on his daughter, Maddi, who was recently taken home from the hospital following a 130-day stay. “Maddi is doing great. [Monday] was the first day we had her sleeping next to our bed,” he said.
“We had some help the first couple of nights and then she came out here (to San Diego) with Kate. I didn’t sleep too much, it was pretty rough, but it’s nice having her at the house. Hopefully she gets better with her sleep.”
Pollock attributed his early success this season to simply playing more free, with his wife and daughter serving as inspiration. “I don’t know. I think I just show up to the ballpark, get in my work and if it’s not a good day you just kind of flush it,” he said.
“It’s simple, but for me it’s not that easy to do. If you have a bad game, you’re thinking about it a little bit. But in this situation I leave it on the field and go home and enjoy being with my wife and daughter.
“It’s been a little eye-opening for me, just playing free and easy. I can’t explain it. It’s only been 11 games but so far so good.”
In contrast to last year when he missed an extended period of time due to injuries, the 32-year-old believes staying on the field thus far has allowed him to find his groove at the plate.
“Injuries are tough. It’s part of the game but you want to be healthy, you want to be out there and just be able to contribute every day,” he said. “With baseball you get into a rhythm, get your feel, your routine. When you get injured, everyone else stays in the rhythm and you kind of thrown out of it.
“You try to get better. If you have to be injured and rehab, you try to get better during that. Obviously, if you can stay on the field and stay in the flow, it’s much easier.”
Having appeared in 10 games, Pollock is hitting an impressive .364/.417/.758 with four doubles, three home runs and six RBI in 36 plate appearances.
Pollock keeping focus amid recent challenges off the field
After going hitless in last year’s National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals, Pollock went on to encounter some obstacles off the field as well.
In addition to his daughter being born prematurely, he contracted the coronavirus (COVID-19), which explained his late arrival to Summer Camp. The circumstances have made Pollock’s start to the season all the more impressive.
“As an organization, you commit to a player and give him a deal for four years, you’ve got to bet on the skillset and makeup,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
“AJ has obviously had a lot of things happen in his life off the field over the last six months, but he’s just had a way to still stay consistent with his work and preparation. “It’s good to see things like that happen.
“He didn’t start, came in and had a big hit. And then he hit the homer late. He’s just been fantastic. Huge, huge, huge for us.”
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