Some horses aren't meant to be tamed.
Yasiel Puig wrote another chapter in his story of redemption as he hit a three-run home run in just his second start since returning to the Major Leagues and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres, 7-4, in the rubber match on Sunday at Dodger Stadium.
One of the reasons Puig was recalled from Triple-A when rosters expanded was because of his ability to hit left-handed pitching. The 25-year-old nicknamed the "Wild Horse," proved this specific skillset when he sent left-hander Christian Friedrich deep in the third inning.
"I worked hard in Triple-A and I've brought that work ethic with me here," Puig said through a translator after the game. "It's been given me good results and you can see it now."
During his time in Triple-A, Puig became friends with teammate Jose De Leon who made his MLB debut on the mound on Sunday. According to De Leon, Puig would frequently call his shots (home runs) while at OKC, a prophecy he once again fullfilled in his second at-bat.
"He called it. He actually called it," De Leon said of Puig's home run. "This is the third time this year he's called his shots. It's amazing."
Puig was not as amazed of his prognastication skills as De Leon was, but nonetheless his was excited he could help out his new friend and big league teammate.
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"Everytime I've played with him or he's pitched he's either asked me for a home run, or I've told him 'I will hit a home run,'" Puig said of his called shot. "I was able to do that today and help contribute to his first win."
The back-and-forth battle began when Yangervis Solarte hit his second home run of the series in the top half of the third inning. Solarte welcomed Dodgers' De Leon to the big leagues with his career-best 15th home run of the year, a two-run shot that gave San Diego a momentary lead.
De Leon (1-0) became the fifth Dodgers' rookie to start a game this season and the 15th different pitcher overall.
"That's not the way I think anyone would have envisioned it," Roberts said. "This is the hand we were dealt and we need to make good on it. The world is not perfect and you have to make adjustments."
The 24-year-old pitching prospect threw the ball well in his MLB debut, allowing four runs on six hits with nine strikeouts in six innings.
"The line does not speak to how well Jose pitched today," continued Roberts. "For a young kid to make his debut in this environment says a lot about his composure. Credit to our development to have guys like that. These young kids are contributing."
De Leon's debut took place in front of over a dozen family and friends as the Puerto Rican native became just the third pitcher in Los Angeles Dodgers franchise history to record nine or more strikeouts in his debut joining Pedro Astacio (10) and Kaz Ishii (10).
"I had 19 people here. All the way from Puerto Rico to Washington," De Leon said of the friends and family in attendance. "This was actually the first time they've seen me pitch since I signed in 2013. It was fun to see my Dad jumping all over the place and now I know what they go through when they watch me on TV in Puerto Rico."
After an error tied the game in the top of the fifth, Solarte struck again with an RBI sacrifice fly that gave San Diego a 4-3 lead.
Once again, the Dodgers would answer in the bottom half of the inning as Chase Utley and Yasmani Grandal hit back-to-back run scoring singles that recaptured the lead for the boys in blue.
Fredrich did not factor in the decision, allowing four runs on six hits with three walks and four strikeouts in just 4 and 1/3 innings. Friedrich is winless in his last 12 games with his last victory coming on June 23rd.
Grandal put the game out of reach with a two-run home run just over the short porch in left field that gave the Dodgers a three-run lead.
"I thought it was going to go further than it was," Grandal said of his home run. "I hit it pretty high so I was more concerned with if it was fair or foul. He threw a fastball and I saw it tip off his glove and go into the stands. I'll take it."
It was Grandal's career-high 23rd homer of the season -- the most in the Major Leagues by a catcher. The switch-hitter finished 2-for-2 for with a home run and three RBI after entering the game as a pinch-hitter in the fifth.
Puig went 1-for-2 with a home run, three RBI and a season-high three runs scored and is carrying over his hot-hitting from the minor leagues as he's batting .500 with a home run since his return to the big leagues.
"I was waiting for the opportunity to return," Puig said of being back in the big leagues. "I will continue to work with my hitting coach and my teammates and I'll continue to work hard and do my job."
Puig's homer was his first with Los Angeles since the Fourth of July against Baltimore and the fans appreciated his efforts by honoring him with a standing ovation as he crossed home plate.
"The fans had been asking for my return and this is a way to pay them back for all their support," Puig said of the reception. "Everyone was very happy and I'm thankful for all their support," Puig said of the fan's reaction. "
Kenley Jansen recorded back-to-back saves with a scoreless ninth and now has 41 on the season.
Los Angeles clinched the season series with San Diego for the sixth consecutive year and increased their lead in the National League West to three games over the San Francisco Giants who fell to the Chicago Cubs in 13 innings on Sunday.
Players of the Game:
Yasmani Grandal: Two-run home run, 3 RBIs
Yasiel Puig: Three-run home run, 3 RBI and 3 runs scored.
Jose De Leon: First career win and nine strikeouts.
Three Takeaways:
1. Puig Not Late: Yasiel Puig continued his story of redemption with a three-run go-ahead home run in the bottom of the third. Puig finished the game with three RBI and three runs scored as he seems to have acclimated himself back into the good graces of the team.
#PuigNotLate on this one. https://t.co/efbBWzySt2 #Crushed pic.twitter.com/UwwWw1eIvk — MLB (@MLB) September 4, 2016
2. De Leon's Debut: Things couldn't have gone much better for pitching prospect Jose De Leon in his MLB debut. The 24-year-old right-hander earned the victory in his first big league game and punched out nine Padres hitters, the second most in Los Angeles franchise history (Astacio and Ishii -10). His nine strikeouts without a walk was the third most in MLB history in a debut since 1913 behind Washington's Stephen Strasburg (14) and Cincinnati's Johnny Cueto (10).
Jose De Leon's 9 strikeouts are the second most in #LADodgers history behind Astacio and Ishii with (10). #Dodgers — Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) September 4, 2016
3. 15 Pitchers of Fame: Jose De Leon became the 15th different Dodger starting pitcher to take the mound this season, the most in the Major Leagues this season.
One of these things is not like the other... pic.twitter.com/3PhyuqfM2n — Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) September 4, 2016
Up Next:
Padres (56-80): San Diego returns to the friendly confines of Petco Park where they will host the Boston Red Sox starting on Monday.
Dodgers (75-61): Zack Greinke returns to the mound at Dodger Stadium as Los Angeles hosts the Diamondbacks for a three-game series starting on Monday. Kenta Maeda makes the start at 5:10 PM PST.
