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Dodgers News: Justin Turner, Chris Taylor Named 2017 NLCS Co-MVPs

Matthew Moreno
2 Min Read
Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Turner and Chris Taylor were named 2017 National League Championship Series co-MVPs, marking a second consecutive year it’s been presented to teammates. Javier Baez and Jon Lester were co-NLCS MVPs in 2016 when the Chicago Cubs eliminated the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games.

Taylor went 4-for-15 with four runs scored, one double, one triple, one home run, two RBI and five walks in the NLCS. Taylor helped set the tone for Game 5 as he worked Jose Quintana for a nine-pitch walk.

Taylor scored the first run of the game, and later scored on Turner’s base hit in the third inning. The award adds to what’s been a remarkable year for Taylor. He began the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City before cementing himself atop the Dodgers lineup.

His emergence coincided with becoming an outfielder and everyday player in center field, filling another need for the Dodgers.

Turner went 5-for-14 with three runs scored, two home runs and six RBI in the NLCS. His walk-off, three-run home run lifted the Dodgers to a 2-0 lead on the 29th anniversary of Kirk Gibon’s game-winning homer in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.

For the entire postseason, Turner is batting .387/.500/.677 with three home runs and 12 RBI. He’s again lived up to a reputation of being one of the Dodgers’ top hitters come October.

The Dodgers’ history of being named NLCS MVP began in 1977 with Dusty Baker receiving the inaugural award. Steve Garvey took it home in 1978, Burt Hooton in 1981, and Orel Hershiser in 1988. Garvey and Hershiser are among the three players to twice win the award in an LCS, but that came with a team other than the Dodgers.

Garvey won it again in 1984 with the San Diego Padres, and Hershiser in 1995 with the Cleveland Indians.

Matthew Moreno is a journalist from Whittier, Calif., who is a credentialed reporter and is currently the Managing Editor of DodgerBlue.com and LakersNation.com. In addition to covering Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Lakers, Matthew has a strong passion for keeping up to date with the sneakerhead culture. It began with Michael Jordan and Air Jordan shoes, and has carried over to Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike. Matthew previously was the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Trojans Football. Matthew graduated from California State Long Beach University with a major in journalism and minor in communications. Contact: matt@mediumlargela.com