A lot has happened since Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig was placed on the disabled list on July 8. There was a Home Run Derby, an All-Star Game, the Dodgers acquired a new superstar shortstop, their third baseman returned to the disabled list, Andrew Toles was called up and sent back down, Alex Verdugo was called up and sent back down, and, most importantly, the Dodgers went 10-5 and took over sole possession of first place in the National League West, where they still hold a 1.5-game lead over the second place Arizona Diamondbacks.

Simply put, the Dodgers did quite well without the guy Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully dubbed “The Wild Horse” in their everyday lineup.

But for as good as the Dodgers were during Puig’s absence, and for as well as his replacements Andrew Toles (6-for-23 = .261) and Alex Verdugo (5-for-16 = .313) did in his absence, the 27-year-old Cienfuegos, Cuba native, who was clearly heating up when he strained his right oblique during a swing on July 8, immediately showed naysayers exactly why those first place Dodgers are a much better team with him in their everyday lineup than they are without him in their everyday lineup. He also showed those who have been lobbying for him to be included in a trade package that they are… well… nuts.

In his first game back from the DL on Saturday, Puig drove in the first three of the Dodgers eventual five runs.

What’s the big deal about that, you say? The big deal is that the Dodgers won by a score of 5-1. In other words, although is was nice to add a couple of insurance runs in the top half of the ninth inning at SunTrust Park in Atlanta, Puig essentially beat the Braves single-handedly.

Although Puig’s sacrifice fly in the top of the second inning gave the Dodgers an early 1-0 lead, it was his two-run home run in the sixth inning that would prove to be the eventual game winner.
(Video capture courtesy of Fox Sports)

Obviously nobody really wins a baseball game single-handedly. Regardless of how much (or how little) offense you put up, you still need good pitching to keep the other team off the board.

For the third consecutive night the Dodgers receive that good pitching – great, actually – from their third (of three) left-hander currently in their starting rotation; this time in the form of 27-year-old Alex Wood.

All the Charlotte, North Carolina native and (ironically) Atlanta Braves 2012 second-round draft pick did was limit his former team to zero runs and only one hit, while walking four and striking out five in his 5.2 innings of work.

Through the first three games of the four-game series against the Atlanta Braves, Dodgers left-handers Rich Hill, Clayton Kershaw and Alex Wood (above) allowed only one run over their combined 20 innings pitched.
(Photo credit – Sara Morton)

The lone Braves run on Saturday night came on a solo home run by third baseman Johan Camargo in the bottom of the seventh inning off of Dodgers left-handed reliever Caleb Ferguson on a 3-2 count. It would be one of only three hits allowed by Dodgers pitchers on the night.

Although it’s still too early to know for sure if the hot hitting that Puig was enjoying before he landed on the DL will continue now that he is back, with his 1-for-2 night on Saturday that included a walk, a sacrifice fly, a home run, two runs scored, and three RBI, you’ve certainly got to like his chances.

Welcome back, Yasiel.