The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger watches his three-run triple in front of Giants catcher Nick Hundley during the second inning of Tuesday’s game at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 02: Pitcher Alex Wood #57 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches in the first inning during the MLB game against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on May 2, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
San Francisco Giants’ Christian Arroyo, right, scores as Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes reaches or an errant throw during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, May 2, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: LAD111
San Francisco Giants’ Christian Arroyo, left, scores as Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes reaches for an errant throw during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, May 2, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: LAD112
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 02: Pitcher Matt Moore #45 of the San Francisco Giants pitches during the first inning of their MLB game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on May 2, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Franklin Gutierrez watches his solo home run off San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Matt Moore, front, during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, May 2, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: LAD109
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Franklin Gutierrez, left, hits a solo home run as San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Matt Moore, right, reacts and catcher Nick Hundley watches during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, May 2, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: NYOTK
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Franklin Gutierrez, center, points to the sky after a solo home run as San Francisco Giants catcher Nick Hundley, right, and home plate umpire Joe West wait during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, May 2, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: LAD113
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger watches his three-run triple in front of Giants catcher Nick Hundley during the second inning of Tuesday’s game at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 02: Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a three-run triple to left field during the second inning of the MLB game against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on May 2, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Alex Wood celebrates after hitting an RBI single during the second inning of the team’s baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Tuesday, May 2, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: LAD114
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 02: Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is congratulated by teammates after scoring in the second inning on a single to left field by teammate Alex Wood #57 (not in photo) during the MLB game against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on May 2, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Alex Wood throws during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Tuesday, May 2, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: LAD108
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 02: Joe Panik #12 of the San Francisco Giants reacts after striking out looking in the second inning during the MLB game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on May 2, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Matt Moore throws to a Los Angeles Dodgers batter during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 2, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: LAD107
San Francisco Giants’ Matt Moore, left, hits an RBI single as Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Alex Wood, below, watches along with catcher Austin Barnes, right, and home plate umpire Joe West during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, May 2, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: NYOTK
San Francisco Giants’ Matt Moore, left, watches his RBI single off Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Alex Wood, right, during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, May 2, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: LAD115
San Francisco Giants’ Nick Hundley, center, gestures to Matt Moore, left, while Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes waits as the two Giants scored on a double by Brandon Belt during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 2, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: LAD116
San Francisco Giants’ Nick Hundley, left, and Matt Moore congratulate each other after scoring on a double by Brandon Belt during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, May 2, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: LAD110
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Chris Taylor, right, is safe at second on a single by Yasiel Puig as San Francisco Giants second baseman Joe Panik makes a late catch during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, May 2, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) ORG XMIT: LAD118
The Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig hits a two-run rbi single to left field during the sixth inning. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 02: Yasiel Puig #66 of the Los Angeles Dodgers runs toward homeplate to score on a single to right field by Adrian Gonzalez #23 (not in photo) during the sixth inning of their MLB game against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on May 2, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Giants 13-5. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes has his mask knocked off his face by the ball during the eighth inning. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig (No. 66) and Andrew Toles (60) celebrate with their teammates after their 13-5 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES – However this plays out, the Dodgers are going to have some ’splaining to do.
Cody Bellinger should be nearing the end of a 10-day cameo, a brief big-league baptism scheduled to end when the Dodgers start emptying their disabled list. But the 21-year-old prospect has shown the kind of respect 21-year-olds usually have for their elders’ plans.
He had two more hits, including a three-run triple, and scored twice as the Dodgers pounded the San Francisco Giants, 13-5, Tuesday night.
“Cody’s done a great job. Cody’s played well – offensively, defensively,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “There’s definitely a spark that he’s contributed to our club. Tonight, he had another good night at the plate. Every time we take the field, he seems to do something to help you win. To me, that’s the mark of a winning player.”
Bellinger has started eight consecutive games since being promoted from Triple-A Oklahoma City last week, making himself more and more at home.Tuesday, Roberts started him at first base (Bellinger’s best position) for the first time, giving veteran Adrian Gonzalez the night off even though both are left-handed hitters and the Giants were starting a left-handed pitcher, Matt Moore.
Bellinger had the key hit as the Dodgers dismantled Moore in a six-run second inning. Batting with the bases loaded against Moore, Bellinger was overanxious on a 2-and-0 fastball, jumping out in front and launching a towering foul fly ball down the right field line. On the next pitch, he took an outside pitch where it wanted to go, slicing it into the left field corner for a three-run triple that tied the score.
“To take a fastball and turn it around and hit it 400 feet foul then get a slider down and away, keep his barrel in the zone, keep the front shoulder closed and go line to line – that’s … bat-to-ball elite,” Roberts said.
Bellinger has gone 10 for 29 (.345) with four extra-base hits (a double, triple and two home runs), seven runs scored and five driven in.
The Dodgers were – are? – planning to send Bellinger back to OKC on Friday when Joc Pederson is expected to return from the DL. But Bellinger’s performance, particularly on this homestand, has made that a very difficult move to make.
“There’s nothing set in stone,” Roberts said. “Anyone who’s followed our club over the past year and a half, knows things change daily – or hourly.
“Cody’s done everything he can that he wants to continue this opportunity. Tip your hat to him for the way he plays the game. … A lot can happen between now and Friday and even with that we have not made a final decision.”
With Pederson back in center, Andrew Toles (8 for his past 21) can return to platooning in left field, pushing Bellinger out of that spot.
Or maybe not. Maybe it is Toles who will be the odd man out. Maybe it’s time Yasiel Puig got a platoon partner in right field. But he had three hits and four RBI in Tuesday’s win.
Maybe it’s time Gonzalez took his forearm injury to the DL – a move the Dodgers have avoided so far out of respect to the veteran who has never been on the DL in his career. Roberts has said a DL move with Gonzalez would require a conversation with the 14-year veteran. He said again Tuesday that conversation has not been had.
There would be no point in keeping Bellinger on the roster beyond Thursday unless one of these scenarios played out, assuring him of consistent playing time.
“I don’t know. I haven’t really been told anything,” Bellinger said. “I’m just here to help the team win. When I’m in the game, that’s what I’m trying to do every at-bat, offense, defense or baserunning. I’m just going to put that in the back of my mind and play the game I know I can.”
There is no hesitation from Bellinger when asked if any doubts about his readiness for the big-league level have survived the past week.
“I think I belong,” he said. “I’m feeling pretty confident at the plate and on defense. So – yeah.”
It would be hard to convince anyone at Dodger Stadium over the past five days that Bellinger hadn’t earned an extended stay. He is 9 for 19 on the homestand and has been in the middle of much that has gone right for the Dodgers while winning four of five – like Tuesday’s six-run second inning.
“It’s been great,” Bellinger said. “My family’s out here. I think they’re loving it as much as I am. I’m just living out my dream right now.”
There was plenty more offense to come in a four-run fourth and a three-run sixth. The Dodgers had 11 hits in the game, including a home run by Franklin Gutierrez in his first game back from the DL, and Giants pitchers kept the pump primed by walking nine batters – including Chris Taylor four times.
