Shortly prior to the Los Angeles Dodgers breaking camp to return for the exhibition Freeway Series, third baseman Justin Turner said he was healthy and seeing the ball well at the plate. “Everything feels pretty good,” he remarked.
Turner’s comments simply confirmed what his statistics suggested. Through 18 Cactus League games, he hit .391/.472/.674 with four doubles, three home runs and 15 RBI. Turner went 1-for-3 in the Dodgers’ loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Friday night.
The defeat meant Los Angeles remained winless in Spring Training games at Angel Stadium since 2003, going 0-14-2 during that span. But the Dodgers reversed their fortunes Friday, coming away with a 3-1 victory.
Rich Hill and Garrett Richards were both sharp early, with each turning in three scoreless innings. But a Richards slider to Turner was golfed into the stands in left field for a leadoff home run in the fourth inning.
Turner is coming off a season in which he clubbed a career-high 27 home runs. Turner has increased his home run total in each of his three seasons with the Dodgers. Hitting seven in 2014, 16 the following year, and last season’s mark that tied for most on the team.
The 32-year-old was among the key free agents over the winter who elected to re-sign with the Dodgers, agreeing to a four-year, $62 million contract.
