Taylor Provides Offensive Spark for Dodgers – April 26-May 2
Taylor Provides Offensive Spark for Dodgers – Chris Taylor Recap: April 26-May 2
After a slow week before, Taylor came out this week swinging a hot bat and provided an offensive spark for the Dodgers when they needed it most. With his versatility on the field and his production at the plate, he’s been one of the most important pieces to this team during its recent skid.
Chris Taylor vs. Reds
April 26
Taylor came up in his first at-bat of the game with runners on the corners and nobody out. He flew out to right field and wasn’t able to bring a run home. In the fourth inning, he came to the plate and battled before dropping in a bloop single on the ninth pitch of the AB. He would come around to score on Lux’s two-out base hit to get the Dodgers on the board. He would ground out in his final two at-bats of the game.
April 27
Taylor got another start in center field and has done an excellent job taking over with Bellinger still on the IL. His first at-bat of the game came in the second inning, and he led the inning off with a sharply hit grounder to short. He struck out swinging before picking up the first hit of the game when he doubled in the sixth inning. He came around to score on Beaty’s base hit, tying the game up at 3-3. In his final AB of the game, Castellanos made a nice leaping grab to rob Taylor of extra bases.
April 28
In the Dodgers’ only win of the series against the Reds, Taylor had a very productive day at the plate. He led the second inning off with his first walk of the game and would come around to score on Raley’s double-play ball. Dodgers took a 1-0 lead, which is really all they would’ve needed the way Kershaw pitched. Gray won the battle against him his second time up when Taylor swung at a curveball to strike out. Taylor drew his second walk of the day against Gray but would be stranded at second. Taylor gave the Dodgers an insurance run in the eighth inning when he tripled with two outs driving home JT. He scored on Pollock’s base hit on the very next pitch finishing his day at the plate and giving the Dodgers a 3-0 lead.
Chris Taylor @ Brewers
April 29
Taylor was back in center field again tonight after filling in at second base the game before. In his first at-bat of the game, he hit into a double play after a leadoff walk for the Dodgers. He flew out to center his second time up. He led off the ninth inning against Brewers closer Josh Hader who had only given up one hit and no runs this season. Taylor takes no time getting things started with a base hit on the first pitch he sees. He takes second on a balk. Barnes singled with two down to drive home Taylor, which was the only run the Dodgers scored in this one.
April 30
With Mookie out of the lineup, Taylor led off the game and played CF. He didn’t have a strong day at the plate, and it began with fouling out in foul territory. In his next AB, he went down swinging and lined out to center in his third time up. Taylor came up in the eighth and checked his swing on a pitch, and Angel Hernandez at first said he went around. (Narrator: he did not.) Roberts was not happy with the call and was ejected from the game for whatever he yelled from the dugout. He then decided to get his ejection’s worth and went out and had a word with Hernandez before heading back to the clubhouse for the night. Taylor flew out, and the Dodgers went onto lose the game, so it was all for nothing. It was nice to see Roberts defend Taylor, but it would’ve been better to see it earlier in the game. Taylor had an 0-for-4 night at the plate.
May 1
Taylor wasn’t in the lineup to start the game but got into the game at CF in the eighth inning in a double switch move entering the game with Jansen. His first AB of the night came against lefty Josh Hader. Taylor had already singled off Hader on Thursday night and got his chance again on Saturday. In a tie game in the ninth, Taylor works an eight-pitch walk and promptly steals second base. He was left stranded to end the inning. With the game tied up again in the eleventh, Taylor struck out to lead off the inning with the go-ahead run on second finishing his night.
May 2
The final game of the series against the Brewers is when things finally got fun for the Dodgers. Taylor’s first plate appearance came in the first inning, and the pitch hit him to load the bases. He came across to score on Pollock’s grand slam, which was only the first of two he would be a part of. In the second inning, he came to the plate with two on and two out and hit a scorching ground ball down the third baseline. Reyes made an incredible diving grab to take away a couple of RBIs from Taylor. Instead, he ended up at first and came home on Beaty’s grand slam. Dodgers led the game 9-0 in the second inning. In the fourth, Taylor singled, and score on Beaty’s base hit. He reached his following two times at the plate on another hit by a pitch and a walk. He came up a final time in the ninth and singled to right, reaching in all six of his plate appearances and scoring five runs. Taylor had himself a great day as the Dodgers come away with a 16-4 win.
Taylor had a much better week with the bat and looked like he was heating up. The strikeouts were down, and he drew a handful of really impressive walks. One thing with Taylor when he reached base this week he was finding a way to get home. If he can keep up the discipline at the plate and draw walks, we all know what he’s capable of doing when he makes contact. Taylor has been a huge piece to the team’s offense even when it’s been struggling. Let’s hope he can continue this as the Dodgers are still waiting on Bellinger and McKinstry to return from their injuries.
WEEKLY STATS:
BA: .274
OPS: .925
R: 10 (24)
Hits: 8 (23)
RBI: 1 (13)
AB: 23 (84)
BB: 4 (15)
2B: 1 (4)
3B: 1 (2)
HR: 0 (4)
SB: 1 (3)
For last week’s recap, click here.
For the latest Chris Taylor stats, click here.
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