Trea Turner once again set the table and AJ Pollock swung a hot bat in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 8-2 win over the L.A. Angels in the rubber match of the Freeway Series. The Dodgers kept pace with the National League West-leading San Francisco Giants and finished 3-2 on their homestand.
Turner didn’t take long to help the Dodgers jump out to an early lead as he led off the bottom of the first inning with a double. Max Muncy then beat the shift with an RBI single through the vacated area at shortstop.
AJ Pollock kept the string of hits alive with a double, and Justin Turner reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Muncy because José Iglesias’ throw to home plate was high.
Unfortunately for Turner, that was his lone at-bat of the day. He made a terrific play ranging to his right in the top of the second inning but gave way to pinch-hitter Albert Pujols in the bottom half. Pujols extended the Dodgers’ lead with a two-run home run.
That came after Trea Turner scored from first base on Pollock’s soft single that went off David Fletcher’s glove and rolled into shallow left-center field. Turner scoring of course had plenty to do with his elite speed, but also was aided by running on the pitch.
One day after having his on-base and hitting streaks snapped in a pinch-hit appearance, Pollock picked right back up and went 3-for-5. One of his hits was an RBI single that extended the Dodgers’ lead to 6-1 in the sixth inning.
Cody Bellinger then fully broke it open with a two-run home run in the seventh. That extended his hitting streak to six games and was a second homer in as many days.
Walker Buehler wasn’t overly sharp as his four walks tied a career high and the Angels collected four hits. However, Buehler managed to pitch through most of the traffic and allowed just one run over six innings.
The right-hander has now gone at least six innings in 22 of 23 starts this season.
Dodgers lose Turner to groin issue
The Dodgers announced Justin Turner was removed from the game due to left groin discomfort. He’s among the team’s few regulars who has managed to avoid a stint on the injured list this season.
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