:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50335365/587861646.0.jpg)
Justin Turner continued his torrid play on Tuesday night, extending his hitting streak to 10 games, but it was his home run that linked him with a select group in Dodgers franchise history. Turner and the Dodgers try for a fifth straight win and a sweep of the Phillies on Wednesday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.
Turner is hitting .333 (14-or-42) during his latest hitting streak, but what makes this unique is that in nine of the 10 games he has at least one extra-base hit, seven doubles and three home runs in all during the 10 games.
On the season, Turner is tied for the club lead with 21 home runs, of which 20 have been hit as a third baseman. That makes Turner one of just six players in Dodgers franchise history to hit at least 20 home runs as a third baseman in a season, and the first since Adrian Beltre in 2004.
Turner is on pace for 30 home runs on the season, which if he reaches would join Ron Cey (30 home runs as a third baseman in 1977), Pedro Guerrero (32, 1983), Todd Zeile (31, 1997) and Beltre (48, 2004) as the only Dodgers at the hot corner to do so.
We have discussed this quite a bit this season, but Turner’s turnaround has been remarkable. As last as June 6, he was hitting just .223/.322/.326 with three home runs and 17 RBI in 55 games. Turner since then in 55 games has hit an astonishing .321/.362/.660 with 18 home runs, 18 doubles and 50 RBI.
Turner drove in 23 runs in June, and drove in 21 runs in July. So far in August he has seven RBI in eight games, with 20 more games left in the month.
The only Dodger in the last 15 years with 20 RBI in three consecutive months was Adrian Gonzalez from July to September 2014.
Under the sun
The Dodgers are 20-9 (.690) in day games in 2016, the best record in baseball. The club has outscored opponents 154-106 during day games, and 9-3 at home in such contests.
The second-best daytime winning percentage belongs to the Giants at 26-13 (.667), their division co-leaders who also play during the day on Wednesday.
Game info
Time: 12:10 p.m. PT
TV: SportsNet LA, MLB Network