Dodgers July review: Clayton Kershaw, Yasiel Puig & first place

The Dodgers got great performances out of their stars in July and ended the month on a six-game winning streak. The strong finish to the month vaulted the Dodgers to the best record in the National League.

Dodger Batter of July: Though his home run on Thursday was just his second home run of the month, Yasiel Puig was an extra-base hit machine in July. The first-time All-Star had 10 doubles and five triples in July, hitting .351/.425/.688. Puig played 21 of the Dodgers' 24 games during the month. The only other Dodger since 1914 with 17 extra-base hits in a month when playing 22 or fewer games was Johnny Frederick in 1929.

Dodger Pitcher of July: After winning National League Pitcher of the Month for June, Clayton Kershaw was nearly as good in July. He allowed five runs in five starts, including three complete games and a shutout, with a paltry 1.07 ERA, 43 strikeouts and four walks. Kershaw is the only Dodger ever with at least 40 strikeouts and no more than five walks in consecutive months.

July Record: 14-10
98 runs scored (4.08 per game)
93 runs allowed (3.88 per game)
.524 pythagorean winning percentage (13-11)

2014 Record: 62-47
455 runs scored (4.17 per game)
395 runs allowed (3.62 per game)
.564 pythagorean winning percentage (62-47)

Game of the Month: The Dodgers vaulted back into first place thanks to a sweep in San Francisco, outscoring the Giants 17-4. The highlight game was Clayton Kershaw's shutout in the middle game on July 26. The win moved the Dodgers back into first place.

Pinch Hitting: For the month, Dodger pinch hitters had nine hits in 25 at-bats with a home run, a double and six walks, hitting .360/.484/.520.

Runners in Scoring Position: In July, the Dodgers hit .287/.375/.426 with runners in scoring position in 276 plate appearances, with 12 doubles, four triples and four home runs.

They had a runner on third base with less than two outs 61 times, and got the runner home 25 times, or 41.0 percent (the entire National League scored 355 of 735 times, 48.3 percent).

They had a runner on second base with nobody out 39 times in July, and the runner advanced 20 times, or 51.3 percent (the entire NL advanced the runner 297 of 542 times, 54.8 percent).

Upcoming month: Half of the Dodgers' 28 games are at home. There is a four-game home-and-home series with the Angels, road trips to Milwaukee and Atlanta, then Phoenix and San Diego.

June weeks in review: July 7 | July 14 | July 21 | July 28

Previous month in review: April | May | June

July Stats

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