Gavin Lux enjoyed his most successful season with the Los Angeles Dodgers this year as he grew into a regular contributor and posted career highs in several categories.
Lux hit .276/.346/.399 with 20 doubles, seven triples, six home runs and 42 RBI across 471 plate appearances and 129 games. He also provided versatility by appearing at three different positions, including second base, where he saw the majority of his time.
Lux feels more comfortable playing his natural position in the postseason as opposed to the outfield, which he was tasked with doing last year. “Yeah, definitely,” Lux said when asked if he prefers playing second base.
“I think the outfield last year was a little bit of a grind. Every game had anxiety, running out there and never really doing it but trying to grind through it and help the team any way possible. I think second base is a lot more comfortable.”
Lux went 1-for-4 with an RBI double in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres, which at the time extended the Dodgers’ lead to 4-0.
“I feel like I saw the ball really good,” Lux explained. “The intensity helps, a lot of adrenaline. We were down for five days, so I think everybody was fired up to get an actual game. Playoffs are a lot of fun.”
Lux also contributed with his glove as he helped turn a key double play in the sixth inning that halted the Padres’ momentum. “Getting the lead out at second is important, and then Trea obviously came across and made a really good throw,” Lux said.
“It takes two to tango with the double play. Trea did a good job coming across and avoiding Manny on the slide.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praises Gavin Lux
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts admitted after the game that he thought Wil Myers would reach base on the ball hit to Gavin Lux. “I thought it was almost past Gavin,” Roberts began.
“Wil did a really nice job of staying inside that baseball, but Gavin got a good jump on it, didn’t panic, made a nice feed to Trea, and Wil is a good runner. For me, that was the play of the game.
“That was Evan’s last hitter. There was stress that inning, and so to be able it get out of that inning to not have Alex come into the game to do another up-down, it was just kind of allowed us to line up the pitching right there. Play of the game for me.”
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