The Dodgers outscored the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks 20-7 in the first four games of the season. But the Dodgers only have a 2-2 record to show for it.
The Dodger won the season opener 8-1 over the Diamondbacks. Then stumbled, losing 2-1 in the second game of the season.
The third game of the season was Trayce Thompson’s time to shine. He hit three home runs, drove in a career-high eight runs, and led manager Dave Thomas to create a new rule.
“I developed a new three-homer rule,” Roberts told the Associated Press. “If you hit three homers, you’ll play the next day.”
Seems fair enough. Thompson hit a grand slam in his first at-bat of the season. He didn’t play in the first two games for the Dodgers. But made the most of his start on Saturday.
He hit a three-run home run and a solo home run before the game was over.
He joined Mookie Betts, Adrian Gonzalez, Shawn Green and Duke Snider as the only other Dodgers to hit three home runs in a regular season game.
Chris Taylor hit three home runs in Game 4 of the 2021 National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves.
Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw made his first start of the season, struck out nine in six innings, and gave up four hits and one run.
Roberts was true to his word and started Thompson in right field on Sunday. But he went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in a 2-1 loss. Thompson saw his batting average drop from .750 to .375.
Still, Saturday’s game was one of the most impressive performances by a Dodgers hitter in recent memory.
Betts had a three home-run game in 2020 against the San Diego Padres and became the third player in MLB history to hit three homers in a game six times. No player has hit three homers in a game seven times.
Johnny Mize and Sammy Sosa are the other two players who have hit three home runs in a game six times.
Former Dodger Albert Pujols hit three home runs in a game four times. He did it a fifth time for the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series in 2011 against the Texas Rangers.
Another Dodger is off to a hot start. Catcher Will Smith is batting .435 in three games and has five RBIs. He hit his first home run of the season in Sunday’s game against the Diamondbacks. It accounted for the only run the Dodgers scored in that game.
There is a four-way tie for first place in the National League West standings after the first four games of the season. The Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Rockies and Padres all have 2-2 records. The Giants are in last place with a 1-2 record.
Dodgers starting pitcher power rankings:
- Clayton Kershaw
- Julio Urias
- Dustin May
- Noah Syndergaard
The Dodgers (2-2) start a little two-game series against the Colorado Rockies (2-2) at Dodger Stadium on Monday. Rookie Michael Grove will start for the Dodgers. They finish with a four-game weekend series against the Diamondbacks in Arizona.
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