Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
Los Angeles Dodgers teammates Trea Turner and Freddie Freeman competed to lead MLB in hits throughout the year as both had another fantastic season, which the superstar duo has become accustomed to.
While Freeman ultimately won the competition with 199 to Turner’s 194, the pair became the first teammates to finish as the top two hit leaders since Ichiro Suzuki (242) and Brett Boone (206) accomplished it for the 2001 Seattle Mariners.
Freeman and Turner also became the first duo since Babe Ruth and Bob Meusel for the 1921 New York Yankees to finish their season with at least 190 hits, 100 RBI, 35 doubles, 20 home runs, 10 stolen bases and multiple 12-game hitting streaks.
Freeman finished his season batting .325/.407/.511 with 21 home runs, 47 doubles, 100 RBI and 13 stolen bases. Turner hit .298/.343/.466 with 21 home runs, 39 doubles, 100 RBI and 27 stolen bases.
This year the @Dodgers‘ Freddie Freeman & Trea Turner each finished with:
– 190+ hits
– 100+ RBI
– 35+ 2B
– 20+ HR
– 10+ SB
– multiple 12+ game hit streaks
The only other duo in MLB history to do all of those in the same season was Babe Ruth & Bob Meusel for the 1921 Yankees.
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) October 6, 2022
With the two stars at the top of their lineup, the Dodgers had a historic season that put them among the top-five teams in MLB history.
The Dodgers finished the season with a 111-51 record, which placed them second all-time for wins in a season by a National League team and tied for fourth in MLB history. Only the 1906 Chicago Cubs (116 wins), 2001 Mariners (116) and 1998 Yankees (114) won more games, while the 1954 Cleveland Indians also won 111 games.
Trea Turner hopes late success leads to momentum in postseason
Turner spent most of the season with a batting average above .300, but in September, the speedy shortstop hit .257/.296/.404. The offensive struggles left him frustrated and caused the 29-year-old to take extra practice before many of games.
In the final game of the season, something seemed to click for Turner as he hit a three-run home run and added a single, which couldn’t come at a better time as the Dodgers now turn their attention to the playoffs.
“It feels good to have some success after all the swings and everything I’ve done the last few days, few weeks and even a couple months,” Turner said. “It was good to end on a high note and get ready for the postseason to try to keep rolling there.”
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