Joc Pederson homers in Dodgers’ win over Diamondbacks

The Dodgers utilized a three-run fourth inning to cruise to a relatively easy win, 6-2 over the Diamondbacks on Saturday night at Chase Field in Phoenix.

The second straight win for the Dodgers, coupled with the Giants’ loss, lowered LA’s magic number to clinch the National League West to 10.

Those three runs in the fourth inning were punctuated by monstrous home run over the pool in right center field by Joc Pederson, a two-run shot that at 463 feet was the longest by the Dodgers this season.

It was the 23rd home run of the season for Pederson, and his seventh against Arizona.

Corey Seager tripled and scored in the first inning, and in doing so continued to make his mark in Dodgers franchise history. He added a single later, giving him 181 hits on the season for Seager, passing Steve Sax (1982) for the LA rookie record.

It also gave Seager a team-leading 302 total bases, the first Dodger of any kind with 300 total bases since Matt Kemp (353) in 2011. The LA Dodgers rookie record for total bases is 307, set by Mike Piazza in 1993.

Brock Stewart, pressed into spot start duty on nine days rest after he wasn’t needed earlier in the week in long relief, had a solid outing. The right-hander struck out six and walked one in his five innings. He allowed only two runs, on solo home runs by Jean Segura and Welington Castillo.

Stewart has allowed seven home runs in his 27 big league innings, all on the road. But five of those shots came in Stewart’s first two starts. Since then, the rookie has a 2.00 ERA with 17 strikeouts and nine walks in 18 innings.

Arizona might have scored more were it not for the strong arm of Andrew Toles, who threw home in the fourth inning for his first major league outfield assist.

Chase Field

Chase Utley doubled home an insurance run in the seventh inning for a three-run lead, continuing his stellar series. Utley had two doubles on Saturday, his third straight multi-hit game and his third straight game with at least one double.

Utley in the series is 7-for-13 (.538) with four doubles and a walk. Eight of his 25 doubles this season have been hit against Arizona, in 16 games, including five doubles in eight games at Chase Field.

Power and speed

With runners at the corners in the sixth inning and two out, Pederson stole second base, catching the Diamondbacks so off guard that Castillo didn’t even cover second base. Pederson had the third Dodgers game this season with a home run and steal in the same game. Pederson also had the last one, on June 18, joining Howie Kendrick on May 28.

Up next

The Dodgers go for a series win on Sunday afternoon, with Jose De Leon starting the finale, a 1:10 p.m. PT start. The Diamondbacks will send left-hander Robbie Ray to the mound.

Saturday particulars

Home runs: Joc Pederson (23); Jean Segura (17), Welington Castillo (14)

WP - Brock Stewart (2-2): 5 IP, 5 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts

LP - Shelby Miller (2-12): 5⅓ IP, 7 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts