Everyone knows what a fan-favorite third baseman Justin Turner is. He is the unofficial Dodger’s team captain and helps provide a lot of leadership and cohesiveness in the clubhouse. Fans waited expectantly, but perhaps not quite so patiently, to hear whether the Front Office would resign him in the off-season. They were rewarded over Valentine’s weekend when the news was finally confirmed that “JT,” as he is sometimes referred to, would be staying with the Dodgers.

The Lakewood, CA native has played in 806 games in the regular and post-season since joining the Dodgers in 2014. Right now he has a slash line of .390/.435/.732/1.166. Typically batting third, he has hit 119 home runs in his career as a Dodger, three of those at the start of the 2021 season.

Wednesday night’s game was the most recent homer for the third baseman; however, it was probably the most unusual. In the bottom of the third inning, Turner hit a lead-off home run on a fly ball to center field. It took fans a moment to realize what had happened, as the play was immediately under review for possible fan interference.

It turns out that when Turner smashed the ball, it landed in the newly added Home Run Seats just beyond the outfield walls. Not only did it land where people were sitting, it actually slammed into a helmet full of nachos as a fan tried to catch it. Images of the fan covered in nacho cheese while holding up his trophy were flashed across the stadium’s jumbotrons.

After a video review confirmed that there was no fan interference and it was officially ruled a home run, Turner treated the fan to a fresh order of nachos. When asked in the post-game interview about it, the third baseman laughed while recounting it.

“I went into the clubhouse after and asked one of the guys if he could replace his nachos. I ruined a meal for him, so I had to replace it,” Turner said humbly.

Throughout the game, Dodger Stadium organist Dieter Ruehle repeatedly played “Macho Man” by the Village People, with fans singing along and changing the words to “Nacho, Nacho, Man”.

Turner was also asked about the messy home run and if he knew it was going to leave the park.

“Not necessarily, at night here when it’s cold, the ball doesn’t you know fly as good, so I knew I hit it good, but I was going hard out of the box,” Turner stated. “And when I saw the yellow splatter all over the guy’s chest, I knew it was a homer.”

Luckily, that same fan was treated to a World Series hoodie to replace the one covered in cheese.

The Boys in Blue somehow always manage to surprise and make this game fun for fans in the stands and those watching at home. This was “nacho” average game.

Here’s to many more fun memories to be made this season now that baseball is back!

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