Whereas Yasmani Grandal was among the best hitting catchers in the first half of 2015, he’s largely struggled through the first three months this season. He began the year on the disabled list as a result of nagging forearm soreness during Spring Training.
With the Los Angeles Dodgers mired in a three-game losing streak, Grandal broke out in a big way to help lead the team to a 10-6 victory over the San Diego Padres on Friday night. Grandal’s career night against his former club began with a two-run, line-drive home run in the bottom of the first inning.
After Melvin Upton, Jr. cut the Dodgers’ lead to 4-3 with a two-run homer in the second inning, Grandal answered back with a three-run blast in the third. For good measure, he dropped down a bunt single up the third base line in the fourth inning to beat the Padres’ shift.
Grandal’s career night continued in the seventh as he clubbed his third home run of the game. He came to plate again in the eighth and singled to finish the night 5-for-5. Video of his offensive onslaught is courtesy the Dodgers’ Twitter account:
3⃣ homers + 2⃣ singles = 5⃣-for-5⃣ #BaseballMath
? What. A. Night. For. @YazmanianDVL08. ?#GOALShttps://t.co/rihOtLzH1E
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 9, 2016
The three-home run game was the first of Grandal’s career, and his five hits set a career high. He joined Roy Campanella (1950) and Mike Piazza (1996) as Dodgers catchers who have hit three home runs in a game.
