Bellinger's 1st hit ends Dodgers' HR drought
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LOS ANGELES -- Cody Bellinger's first hit was the first home run of the year for the Dodgers, a two-run, opposite-field shot off left-handed reliever Josh Osich in the bottom of the sixth inning Sunday night when the Dodgers blanked the Giants, 9-0.
Bellinger, last year's National League Rookie of the Year when he slugged 39 homers, was 0-for-11 when he followed Yasmani Grandal's RBI single with his shot to right-center field. Bellinger hit 12 of his home runs last year off left-handed pitchers.
"There's definitely more pressure to get the first hit when you are 0-for-8 to start the year," said Bellinger. "It's still the first series and I don't think anyone was really worried. But it's nice to get both out of the way, and on the same at-bat is pretty cool."
The Dodgers set a franchise record last year with 221 home runs.
Corey Seager and Yasiel Puig also had their first hits of the year, as the Dodgers pounded out 13 hits and posted a pair of four-run innings. Five Dodgers had multiple-hit games, three scored multiple runs and six players had RBIs.
"That was more of what we did last year," said Bellinger. "Top of the order, bottom of the order, it didn't really matter, everybody was hitting. It was a matter of time; the nerves are starting to go away and just play baseball again and not go on adrenaline."