When the Dodgers entered Tuesday night’s game against the San Diego Padres at a fan-less Dodger Stadium, they had committed only four errors in 627 total chances through their first 17 games of the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season for an outstanding .994 fielding percentage; third-best in the MLB.

By the time the third out of the top half of the third inning was (finally) recorded, that total had become six errors, and the Dodgers brief 1-0 lead had become a 5-1 deficit in the eventual ugly 6-2 loss.

But as they say (whoever they are), ‘It’s no use crying over spilled milk.’

But about that first Dodgers run – the one that had given them that brief 1-0 lead.

It happened in the bottom of the second inning when Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner, who was sitting on 999 career major league hits, led off the inning with a laser shot high off the left-field wall off of Padres right-hander Garrett Richards for a double and Turner’s 1,000th career hit.

“That’s a big positive from tonight, and something Justin is and should be very proud of,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “A lot of people along the way helped him, but no one more than himself. To reach that 1,000-hit milestone, considering where his career started, that’s quite an accomplishment.”

As you would expect, and just as he did exactly one week ago to the day when hit by a franchise-record-setting pitch for the 74th time as a Dodger, Turner asked for the ball from his milestone hit.

It was nice to see a silver lining around an otherwise dark cloud.

Congrats, JT!

Play Ball!

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