MLB.com reports:
On Wednesday night, he passed Duke Snider and Gil Hodges for most Dodgers home runs before the All-Star break. On Thursday night, he closed the gap on Reggie Jackson (37), Mark McGwire (33) and Willie Mays (31) for most pre-break homers under the age of 24.
This is the kind of company Cody Bellinger is keeping in what has the makings of the greatest offensive season in Dodgers history, the All-Star outfielder tacking on home run No. 30 in a 5-1 win over the Padres on the Fourth of July at Dodger Stadium. Wonder what he’ll do on Friday.
“I apologize for the lack of drama at the end,” joked manager Dave Roberts, whose team had won its previous five home games in walk-offs.
No need for theatrics this time, as Bellinger and Max Muncy homered and Hyun-Jin Ryu (10-3) pitched six scoreless innings in a final tune-up for his All-Star Game start.
If the magnitude of what he’s doing at the plate is having any impact on Bellinger, it didn't show when he talked about it after another night of heroism in support of Ryu.
“Just trying to keep going,” said Bellinger. “Just try to stay in the present the best I can. Not get too big-headed or too down on myself. I don’t try to listen to all those numbers.”
Then, cover your ears. Bellinger, who homered twice on Wednesday night, crushed a hanging breaking ball as a greeting to lefty reliever Logan Allen. Allen had replaced starter Dinelson Lamet, who was making his first MLB start since Tommy John surgery 15 months earlier.
Eleven of Bellinger’s 30 homers have come off left-handers, the most dramatic improvement in his game from last year, when only six of his 25 home runs were off lefties.
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