Chris Taylor, #3, Los Angeles Dodgers, (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Chris Taylor called game and beat the San Diego Padres.
The San Diego Padres have struggled against the Los Angeles Dodgers over the last few seasons, and the new, revamped squad led by new manager Jayce Tingler still can’t seem to grind out wins against the NL West favorites.
When Manny Machado lofted a fly ball to left, one that looked deep enough to score Trent Grisham from third and tie the game at 7-7 in the ninth inning, Chris Taylor fired a missile from left field that couldn’t have been thrown any more accurately, nailing Grisham at the plate and securing a 7-6 win for the Dodgers.
Chris Taylor’s versatility will be key to the Dodgers’ championship hopes.
The win dropped the Padres to 7-6 after losing two straight, while the Dodgers are now tied with the Colorado Rockies for first place after moving up to 9-4. Taylor himself is hitting .256 with one home run after lining up at six different positions so far in 2020.
Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger have the production and star power, but the Dodgers’ success over the last half-decade wouldn’t have transpired if not for the presence of veteran glue guys like Taylor. When an experienced Swiss Army knife that can throw the ball 93 miles per hour flat-footed from the outfield is a complimentary piece on LA’s roster, it goes to show how stacked Dave Roberts’ squad is this season.
While the Padres might have legit postseason hopes this season due to their star power, the shortened schedule, and the expanded playoffs, they will need to prove they can get past the Dodgers to make that dream a reality. As long as Taylor is uncorking laser beams from left field, the Dodgers will remain kings of the NL West.