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The heat is on — thanks to the Dodgers’ Justin Turner
- Updated: July 24, 2016
12:15 AM ET
ST. LOUIS — On the hottest trip of the season so far, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Justin Turner has delivered production to match the weather.
From the blistering desert, to the muggy nation’s capital, to the steamy Gateway, (back) to the West, the Dodgers have opened the second half on a cross-country journey, taking the Justin Turner Tour of America.
Evidence of Turner’s offensive explosiveness actually started before the All-Star break, but not even four days of downtime could derail it.
Turner has hit five home runs in the first eight games of the second half, through Saturday’s 7-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. He is batting .378 (14-for-37) with 14 RBIs since the second half started.
Going back to June 10, the production really gets impressive. His 14 home runs leads the National League, as do his 38 RBIs. Before play Saturday, he was third in slugging percentage (.690), tied for fourth in hits (47), and fifth in runs scored (25).
He already has 18 home runs on the season, surpassing his previous season high of 16 set in 126 games last season.
“I’m definitely feeling comfortable again,” said Turner, who had microfracture knee surgery in the offseason. “I felt comfortable all year. I don’t know what was going on those first two months. But yeah, I feel good, I feel comfortable, and I’m getting better results. The first two months, I feel like I was taking good at-bats, hitting balls hard and not having anything to show for it.”
Justin Turner picked up two of his 14 RBIs since the All-Star break with a two-run double in the third inning on Saturday. Scott Kane/Getty Images
Since joining the Dodgers in 2014, Turner has been known for streaky production, countering stretches of carrying the team with slumps of varying lengths. This season, though, has been one big pendulum swing from a lack of production in April and May to his blistering current run that started in June.
In fact, the current run has gone on for so long that his teammates think Turner has finally figured out a way to keep the good times rolling for …
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