LOS ANGELES -- Rookie Cody Bellinger on Sunday became the fastest Dodger in the modern era to reach 10 career home runs, according to Elias.
Bellinger, playing in his 31st game, belted a three-run shot off a hanging 1-2 curveball from Cubs lefty Jonathan Lester in the bottom of the second to give the Dodgers the lead for good in a 9-4 win at Dodger Stadium.
However, Bellinger's home run nearly didn't happen. Earlier in the at-bat, the 21-year-old decided to square up to bunt against Lester because of some pitches he saw and some notes he remembered from the Dodgers' scouting report.
"It was one of those things, if we get an opportunity to get a bunt base hit, we're going to take it," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "After that, [Cubs third baseman Kris] Bryant moves in and fortunately [Bellinger] chose to swing the bat."
It was Bellinger's first time going against Lester -- one of the top lefties in the National League -- and the rookie has had to adjust day by day to top-level competition.
Bellinger is starting to garner more attention and said he's noticed pitchers taking different approaches.
"I think the hardest part is you have a scouting report, but you don't really see it until you actually face him," Bellinger said about Lester. "I think a second time around, there's more confidence going into it and you just try to rely on the scouting report and what the guys say before you."
Bellinger, the Dodgers' top prospect, was called up on April 25 and leads the team in home runs.