LOS ANGELES ― As long hitting streaks go, Trea Turner’s 26-game run has been easy to overlook. It has spanned two regular seasons, bridging a postseason in which Turner failed to register a hit in six games. Aside from a two-homer game in a narrow victory over the Milwaukee Brewers last October, the streak has produced few impactful moments. Like the 28-year-old shortstop, the hits are rarely loud.
That changed on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Turner scorched a triple into the right field corner in his second at-bat, driving in Gavin Lux with the eventual winning run in a 3-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
Turner finished his triple with a signature flourish, rotating his body some 90 degrees while completing an almost-frictionless slide into third base. He also singled and stole a base before the announced crowd of 51,891 at Dodger Stadium.
“The first seven games, I feel like I’ve been a little off,” Turner said. “I’m just not driving the baseball. I want to hit for more power. I’m getting my singles here and there, doing some good things, but still feel like I can hit better, strike out a little less, walk a little more.”
A day that began with a series of tributes to Jackie Robinson, who debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers 75 years ago Friday, ended with the Dodgers’ fourth straight win. They have back-to-back wins over the Reds to begin their first homestand of 2022.
Right-hander Tony Gonsolin and left-hander Tyler Anderson combined to allow five hits over eight innings. Craig Kimbrel, making his first appearance at home since he was traded to the Dodgers, recorded the save by throwing a perfect ninth.
The Dodgers never got the big inning they often use to subdue opponents. They did not hit any home runs, though they tried – six fly balls met a similar fate under an imposing marine layer.
Instead, the Dodgers played small ball, stealing three bases and drawing six walks to complement their seven hits. Lux hit a triple of his own out of the No. 9 slot in the batting order and increased his team-leading average to .381 after a day off.
A second-inning single by Chris Taylor got the Dodgers on the board when Max Muncy scored from third base. Justin Turner attempted to score on the line drive to left field too, but he was thrown out at home plate.
In the fifth inning, the Dodgers loaded the bases against Reds starter Vladimir Gutierrez (0-2). A two-out walk by Justin Turner padded their lead to 3-0.
Gonsolin danced around trouble for four scoreless innings, allowing three hits and walking three more. Anderson allowed the Reds’ only run on an RBI single by Kyle Farmer in the sixth inning. He allowed two hits, did not walk a batter, and struck out four batters in four innings.
It’s the second time Anderson, a starter throughout his first six seasons, has piggybacked a Gonsolin start in 2022. The pair has allowed only three runs combined across 15 innings.
“Both times we’re right in the game and it’s a great spot,” Anderson said. “I feel like my job is just to come in and give us a chance to stay there.”
Wilie Davis hit safely in 31 consecutive games in 1969. That still stands as the Dodgers’ franchise record. Andre Ethier’s 30-game streak in 2011 is next up in the team record book.
Turner conceded that his streak lacks some impact because it is split over two seasons. But Davis’ and Ethier’s streaks came in different offensive eras. National League batters hit .250 as a group in 1969 and .253 in 2011. Last season they hit .242, the lowest mark in more than a century. The NL was hitting .233 through Friday.
In other words, the likelihood of such a long streak has rarely been lower. Manager Dave Roberts sounded surprised by the length of Turner’s hitting streak when informed of it after Friday’s game.
“Wow, that’s pretty impressive,” he said. “It does seem like he’s always doing something every night to help us win ball games, whether it’s with the bat or playing defense. It is nice if you can run, you can create some hits too. He’s doing a nice job staying above water. When he gets hot it’s going to be real fun.”
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