Dodgers rookie outfielder Yasiel Puig, quiet for much of the latter part of the season, was back to energizing the his team in a 6-1 victory over the Braves in Game 1 of the NLDS.
Puig went 2 for 4 to become the 10th Dodgers rookie to record two or more hits in a postseason game since the team moved to Los Angles in 1958.
“He actually seemed calm today, just kind of focused on what we wanted him to do,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. “I thought his (batting practice) today was calm, used the whole field. Pretty normal.”
Puig was a polarizing figure this season because of on-field antics that rubbed some opponents the wrong way. But he was a big part of the Dodgers’ surge that started soon after he joined the lineup in June and he got them going against the Braves.
Puig got the first hit for the Dodgers in the second inning when he poked Kris Medlen’s change-up beyond the reach of shortstop Andrelton Simmons. Puig then gave the Braves fits on the base paths.
Puig went from first to third on Juan Uribe’s single. Center fielder Jason Heyward wasn’t very deep when he fielded the ball but Puig, who had wandered far off first base, rocketed so fast to third that Heyward didn’t even bother with a throw.
The extra base proved important when Skip Schumaker followed with a fly out to Heyward. Puig broke for home and Heyward tried to throw him out but there was no play at the plate as Uribe took second.
That left Uribe in position to score on A.J. Ellis’ line-drive double that squirted away from diving left fielder Evan Gattis. So chalk up two runs that came by way of Puig’s speed.
Puig’s contributions are important with injuries to outfielders Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier. Kemp is out for the postseason because of an ankle injury and Ethier probably will be limited to pinch hitting because of a sore ankle.
