Editorials

Dodgers News: Amid Slump, Gordon Relied On Strengths

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The Los Angeles Dodgers concluded a nine-game road trip with a 6-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday. The team took three of four games against Atlanta and finished with a 6-3 record on the trip. Even more importantly, second baseman Dee Gordon broke out of a recent slump.

In the Dodgers win on Thursday, Gordon went 3-for-4 with four runs scored and a walk. He also added two stolen bases in the team’s winning effort.



According to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times, Gordon reverted back to his style of play:

I think I’m doing a better job of not going outside of my game,” Gordon said.

In the first eight games if the road trip, Gordon went 5-for-30 with no RBIs, two runs scored and just one stolen base. Mattingly gave Gordon some rest by not starting him in two of the nine games.

Gordon expressed how patience is key and he eventually knew he would return to form:

I had a tough week and a half, two weeks,” Gordon said. “But I just grinded it out. I knew I was going to get out of it.”

Manager Don Mattingly credited to Gordon for not changing his approach during the slump:

I think the lack of changes has been the key thing,” Mattingly said. “You don’t see him go into a panic and all of a sudden changing everything around. He kind of stays with what he’s doing.”

In Thursday’s game against the Braves, Gordon broke out of his slump with what has worked for him all season long. The All-Star second baseman reached on a bunt single in the first inning, stole second base and scored on Yasiel Puig’s single.

Gordon reached again on a bunt single in the ninth inning and later scored an insurance run for the Dodgers. Despite his importance to the offense, Mattingly has spoke of needing to get his second baseman more rest so as not to risk wearing him down.

The Dodgers have 39 regular season games remaining and Gordon has started 108 of the 116 games he’s played thus far.
[divide] Dee Gordon Reveals Story Behind Dodgers Dugout Bubble Machine


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