Yasiel Puig, Dodgers’ ‘wild horse,’ continues to play at a gallop

PHOENIX --- The Dodgers have tried to temper Yasiel Puig’s aggressive play without curbing his enthusiasm. But the man Vin Scully has nicknamed the “wild horse” showed Thursday he is not ready to be tamed.

With one out in the bottom of the first inning of a scoreless game with the Angels, Puig made an ill-advised dive to try to catch Mike Trout’s sinking line drive to center. Puig missed the ball, which rolled past him to the center-field wall.

That allowed the speedy Trout to motor around the bases and only a good throw from Puig and a spectacular relay by shortstop Hanley Ramirez to nail Trout at the plate kept the Angels from taking a 1-0 lead. That proved key when the game ended in a 4-4 tie.

“It’s not the right play more than anything else,” Dodger Manager Don Mattingly said. “Right there’s not the place to take a chance. Give him a single.”

But given that it’s still spring training, Dodger pitcher Dan Haren saw the play a bit differently.

“Trout’s very fast. Puig went all out for the ball,” he said. “It’s spring, you might as well give it a shot, see what your limits are.”