Dodgers tie a homer record on Bellinger's slam

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers have enough weapons that they can overcome most misfires, and there is no more imposing threat in the arsenal right now than Cody Bellinger.

Bellinger slugged a grand slam Tuesday night off Madison Bumgarner and the Dodgers needed every run, escaping with a 6-5 win over the Giants after a high-wire save by closer Kenley Jansen.

Bellinger has five home runs and 12 RBIs in six games this season with a 1.413 OPS, so whatever adjustments he didn’t make last year he seems to be making this year.

As Rookie of the Year in 2017, Bellinger had 39 homers and 97 RBIs, but dipped last year to 25 homers and 76 RBIs.

“All of his at-bat quality, even his takes are real good,” said manager Dave Roberts. “He’s just seeing it really well. I think it’s as good as I’ve seen him.”

This season’s improvement seems to be equal parts approach, mechanics and confidence. Roberts has played a role in the confidence part, vowing to continue starting Bellinger against left-handed pitching after being forced to platoon him last year because of a lack of production.

Bellinger’s .681 OPS against lefties last year was almost 200 points lower than against righties (.880). In 2017, the difference was only 45 points. He’s 3-for-8 against lefties this year.

“He stays in there, keeps his front shoulder in there, and always has,” Roberts said. “Last year was certainly an outlier for us. I saw really good things in Spring Training and you’ve got to give him a runway, and we’re doing it. And to his credit, he’s putting at-bats together.”

Bellinger said there’s no secret sauce to his return to form.

“Sticking with my approach. Understanding what I need to do in the cage before the game and in batting practice to get myself ready for the pitcher. And just trying to execute my plan the best I can,” said Bellinger.

Thanks to Bellinger, the Dodgers have homered in their first six games, matching the franchise record set in 1954.

The Dodgers had already scored a run on Enrique Hernandez’s RBI single before Bellinger’s blast, the inning triggered on a Bumgarner throwing error and a four-pitch walk to winning pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu (2-0). With two outs, Bellinger got a cut fastball up and drilled it.

“It’s as [locked in] as I’ve felt in a long time,” he said. “It’s just the consistency of the cage work that the coaches have helped me with. I’m learning. Watching video. Understanding what I’m good at, what I’m not good at. That was the offseason. During the season, you just grind, it’s a cat-and-mouse game.”

Bellinger said the mental part is “a huge part of it. If you’re feeling good mechanically, the mental aspect allows you to see more pitches. Just confidence is pretty big. I think last year I got away from my plan. When that happens, the results won’t be there.”

An insurance run in the seventh inning on a double by Russell Martin, single by pinch-hitter Alex Verdugo and sacrifice fly by Justin Turner proved decisive when Yimi Garcia and Jansen allowed three runs in the ninth. But with one out and the tying and go-ahead runs on the corners, Jansen got Pablo Sandoval to ground into a 6-4-3 game-ending double play.