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It was Alex Guerrero's grand slam that gave the Dodgers their final four runs of the night, but another Dodgers rookie continued his power surge in Tuesday's win over the Rockies. Joc Pederson was 2-for-5, hitting a home run and his first major league triple,driving in two runs.
The triple tied the game at 5-5 in the seventh inning, and was seemingly hit with one hand, into the right center field gap.
Pederson in the first game of the doubleheader hit a home run that traveled a reported 477 feet. In the third inning in the second game, Pederson hit another home run, this one to center field, that went even further.
.gif pic.twitter.com/aXCQsizFF1
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 3, 2015
Pederson's solo shot gave the Dodgers a 2-0 lead and was estimated at 480 feet, the longest in the majors this season.
.@Dodgers OF Joc Pederson just hit the longest HR in MLB this season pic.twitter.com/gTPfb9bAtV
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 3, 2015
Pederson has hit a home run in four straight games, giving him 16 on the season. He is on pace for 50 home runs.
The major league record for home runs by a rookie was set by current hitting coach Mark McGwire, with 49 bombs in 1987. The Dodgers rookie record for home runs is 35, by Mike Piazza in 1993.
Forget for a moment his rookie status. Pederson is off to one of the best power starts by anyone in Dodgers history. Only five Dodgers players in six seasons have had more home runs than Pederson through 52 team games.
"I thought Joc would have a lot more holes [in his swing] than he does," Zack Greinke said after the game (as seen on SportsNet LA). "He's doing pretty well, hitting pitches I never thought he was going to hit, and he's still really young so it's extra impressive."
Mattingly: "We're just seeing the beginnings of Joc. He has a chance to be a really, really good player."
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) June 3, 2015
Dynamic Duo
On the season, Pederson (16) and Guerrero (10) rank first and second in the major leagues in home runs by a rookie. Per Stats LLC, a team has had the top two rookie home run hitters in baseball just seven times since 1900, with Jim Rice (22) and Fred Lynn (21) the last rookie duo to do so, for the 1975 Red Sox.
Up next
The Dodgers finish off the series on Wednesday night, with Mike Bolsinger on the hill. The Rockies counter with Chad Bettis, who took a no-hitter into the eighth inning in his last start.