Joc Pederson leads Dodgers power display to snap 3-game losing streak

Joc Pederson led the Dodgers' power surge, a much-needed bounty of runs after more than a week of wanting, in a 7-4 win over the Diamondbacks on Tuesday night at Chase Field.

The win snapped the Dodgers' three-game losing streak, and the margin snapped the Dodgers' streak of six straight one-run games, the latter their longest since May 30 to June 4, 2010.

The offense took a little time to percolate, with Archie Bradley holding the Dodgers hitless into the fifth inning, retiring 13 of his first 14 batters faced. But then Pederson took him deep, a 106-mph liner drive 411 feet into the seats to pull the Dodgers within 2-1 of Arizona.

But the inning wasn't over, as Bradley walked both Yasmani Grandal and Howie Kendrick, then a sacrifice by Kenta Maeda moved both into scoring position. Chase Utley delivered them both with a single to right field, turning a one-run deficit into a one-run lead.

The Diamondbacks tied the game in the bottom of the inning, but the Dodgers struck back with two solo home runs in the sixth — Justin Turner hit a ball 458 feet to left center, one of two hits on the night for the third baseman, giving him three home runs and three doubles over his last nine games; and Pederson's second of the night, this one 427 feet just to the right of the pool in right center.

That marked the end of the night for Bradley, who allowed three home runs, a single and two walks in his final 10 batters faced after taking a no-hitter into the fifth.

Tuesday was the second multi-homer game of the season for Pederson and third of his career. Pederson now has a five-game hitting streak and over his last nine games he is 10-for-32 (.313) with four doubles, three home runs and two walks. Pederson also made a leaping catch at the center field wall for an second straight night.

The roomates (Corey Seager, Trayce Thompson and Pederson) have accounted for 36 of the Dodgers' 71 home runs this season, and are the only three to reach double digits so far.

Utley added the 71st home run of the season by the Dodgers with his two-run shot in the seventh, giving him three different games of at least four RBI this season. When he touched home plate on the home run, he scored the 999th run of his illustrious career.

All that offense made a winner out of Kenta Maeda, who struck out six and walked one before leaving after taking a line drive off his lower right leg. He had to be helped off the field, but X-rays were negative.

Notes

The Dodgers hit four home runs for the fourth time this season, with all those games coming in the last 18 days — May 18 (five home runs) at the Mets, then June 3 and June 5 against the Braves.

Thompson threw out two runners at second base — Jake Lamb in the first inning, and Jean Segura in the fifth — for the first two outfield assists of his career.

Kenley Jansen, apparently not the terrible pitcher a small corner of Twitter thought he was on Saturday, struck out all three batters he faced for his 18th save of the season. Jansen now has 160 career saves, one shy of tying Eric Gagne for the all-time franchise record.

Will Venable, signed by the Dodgers earlier in the day, grounded out as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning in his Dodgers debut

Up next

The Dodgers send try to win the series on Wedneday, with Clayton Kershaw on the hill. It's an all southpaw matchup, with Patrick Corbin pitching for the Diamondbacks in the 12:40 p.m. PT start

Tuesday particulars

Home runs: Joc Pederson 2 (11), Justin Turner (6), Chase Utley (5)

WP - Kenta Maeda (6-4): 5⅓ IP, 6 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 1 walk, 6 strikeouts

LP - Archie Bradley (2-3): 5⅔ IP, 4 hits, 5 runs, 3 walks, 9 strikeouts

Sv - Kenley Jansen (18): 1 IP, 3 strikeouts