Dodgers' Dalton Rushing Snaps Bat, Slams Helmet in Slump During Giants Win

Dalton Rushing knows he is in a slump.

The Los Angeles Dodgers catcher and first baseman started the season hot, filling in for Will Smith. He hit .444 with a 1.761 OPS in his first eight games.

Since then, in 14 games, he is 7 for 39. That gives him a .179 batting average and a .484 OPS. He has not gotten a hit since May 6.

On Thursday night against the San Francisco Giants, Rushing struck out in the bottom of the fourth with a runner on second. He swung at a breaking ball out of the zone, then broke his bat over his leg and slammed his leg guard on the dugout bench.

Two innings later, with men in scoring position, he struck out on a high fastball. Rushing slammed his new bat over his helmet -- still on his head -- three times.

Rushing finished the game hitless with three strikeouts.

The Dodgers had lost four straight games, each by at least four runs. They won the final two of their four-game series against the Giants, including a 5-2 victory Thursday. They sit at 25-18 and hold first place in the National League West, but the San Diego Padres stay close.

The Dodgers start a nine-game road trip Friday. The first three games come against the Los Angeles Angels. Then they face the Padres in a big series before playing the Milwaukee Brewers in a National League Championship Series rematch.