A six-game road trip for the Los Angeles Dodgers against National League East opponents Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves has also doubled as a homecoming of sorts for Edwin Rios and Matt Beaty, and both have taken full advantage of it.
Rios appeared in all three games at Marlins Park, making one start and going a combined 4-for-7 with two home runs and three RBI. A former star at Florida International University, he played in front of family and friends. That made Rios’ first career home run(s) all the more memorable.
A similar experience has now been afforded to Beaty throughout the weekend. He was born near Atlanta, went to several Braves games at Turner Field as a young child and attended college at Belmont University in neighboring Tennessee.
While the Dodgers came up short Saturday, Beaty had a home run and RBI single in the losing effort. It came with several friends and family members in attendance, who were part of the largest crowd in SunTrust Park history.
Getting a chance to shine on that stage is something Beaty has thoroughly enjoyed, as seen on SportsNet LA:
“It was cool. I grew up going to Braves ballgames, so to be here and get big hits was special. Especially with my family in attendance. … It was cool to see my family excited in the stands.”
Beaty’s home run on Saturday contributed to the Dodgers tying an MLB record with 24 in a six-game span. Max Muncy’s opposite-field blast in the eighth inning pulled L.A. even with the 1977 Boston Red Sox team that set the record.
Beaty is a combined 3-for-8 with one double, one home run and two RBI through the first two games of the series against the Braves, both of which he’s started. On the season Beaty is batting .293/.332/.517 with 16 doubles, seven home runs and 37 RBI.
He is one of seven Dodgers rookies who has made his MLB debut this year.
