Dodgers News: Mattingly Encouraged By Offensive Surge
In three of their six wins, the Dodgers reached double digits and in two of their losses, the Colorado Rockies scored at least 10 runs. One of the Dodgers more productive bats since the All-Star break has been Matt Kemp, who manager Don Mattingly praised for his play, via the OC Register’s Bill Plunkett:
Matt’s been great,” Mattingly said. “It seems like all our guys are stepping up. That’s what we talk about. Getting into this last month, you want your guys to step up and he’s certainly been one of those guys.”
Mattingly also pointed to the recent surges from Hanley Ramirez and Yasiel Puig, among others:
Hanley’s all of a sudden swinging it a lot better. Yasiel’s swinging it a lot better. Dee (Gordon) has been getting his hits. Adrian’s been the same all year long. Now Matt and Carl (Crawford) is on fire. … I think our guys at this point know where we’re at, know what’s at stake.”
By accumulating six RBIs in the four games with the Chicago Cubs, Adrian Gonzalez increased his total to 112, which leads the Majors. Ramirez returned for the series opener Thursday and is hitting a blistering .474 in the last seven days.
Perhaps more importantly, Puig appears to have broken out of his slump. He’s collected at least two hits in seven of the last 10 games and has his batting average back above .300 for the first time since Aug. 4.
The Dodgers’ offense will now be put to the test Monday against Jake Peavy, who has notoriously pitched well against them — particularly at Dodger Stadium. Then on Tuesday, the Dodgers draw 18-game winner Madison Bumgarner.
