The Los Angeles Dodgers cruised to a 9-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, receiving home runs from Mookie Betts and Chris Taylor, and a Gavin Lux grand slam to support a strong outing by Julio Urias.
For Taylor, it was his first time back in the lineup since being scratched last Sunday due to right wrist soreness. “It felt great, actually. I was pleasantly surprised,” Taylor said when asked if he felt any pain during the game.
“I barely felt it at all once I got in game action. I think the adrenaline definitely helps with that, but I hardly noticed it.”
Taylor revealed that his wrist injury came after swinging in the batting cage last week. “It was weird. I was just hitting in the cage before the game on Sunday and it kind of just bit on me,” he said.
“There’s like a tendon in there, and it just didn’t feel right. I tried to do some stuff in the training room and get loose again right before the game. It still was kind of flaring up on me.
“I thought it was not worth trying to go out there and play through it at the risk of making something that would keep me out one or two games into something much bigger than that.”
Though he was sidelined for a few games, Taylor noted his wrist began feeling better only a couple of days after feeling it tighten up. To avoid this from happening in the future, he plans to adjust his pregame routine.
“I think it’s something I’m going to have to keep an eye on and manage my swings in the cage in BP,” Taylor said. “Might not be able to swing as much as I normally do in preparation for the game. Just kind of take it easy on the wrist and make sure I don’t flare it up again.”
Taylor credits mechanics for consistent success
With his two-hit performance on Tuesday, Taylor is now batting a stellar .381/.527/.524 in 14 games this month. When asked to explain his recent success, he credited his swing mechanics.
“I don’t know. I think mechanically, I’m in a good place. I feel good up there at the plate,” Taylor said. I’m comfortable, feel like I have more time to see the ball. Staying in the zone maybe a little better than I have in the past.
“Just trying to stay within myself, swing at strikes, not swing at balls, do all the little stuff right and hopefully everything takes care of itself.”
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