Joc Pederson home run backs Kenta Maeda gem in Dodgers win

A pair of Dodgers who got off to slow starts this season have done just fine in June, and on Tuesday helped the Dodgers to a 4-0 win over the Angels at Dodger Stadium.

The win completed an 8-1 homestand for the Dodgers, one of the best extended homestands the club has ever had at Dodger Stadium.

Kenta Maeda, limited mostly to spot start duty over the last few weeks but now pressed into a bigger role with Brandon McCarthy on the disabled list, kept the Halos off balance all night, and pitched seven scoreless innings.

Maeda scattered four hits, walked none, and struck out six. He retired 11 of his final 12 batters faced. In June, Maeda has allowed four runs in 21 innings, with 25 strikeouts and four walks.

For the second time in as many nights, the Dodgers had trouble with the Angels’ starter. On Tuesday, Jesse Chavez held them down, allowing only a fly ball single lost in the lights in the first five innings.

But in the sixth, a double by Chase Utley followed by a walk ended Chavez’s night. Cody Bellinger singled home the first run of the game, then one out later Joc Pederson launched a three-run home run to center field against southpaw Jose Alvarez, Pederson’s first home run against a left-hander this season.

Pederson was hitting just .200/.309/.314 with two home runs in 35 games when he was placed on the disabled list with a concussion. Since his return on June 13, Pederson has been in the middle of things in the Dodgers’ offensive resurgence, hitting .319/.467/.745 with five home runs in 15 games.

Pederson’s ISO (isolated power, which is just slugging percentage minus batting average) is up to .210 this season, more in line with his career numbers (.207 in 2015, .249 in 2016). It was .114 this season when he returned from the DL.

The home run gave the Dodgers 45 home runs in June, tied with July 2004 for the most since the franchise moved to Los Angeles in 1958. The only two months that saw the Dodgers hit more home runs were July and August 1953, when Brooklyn hit 49 homers in back-to-back months.

The Dodgers have three more games left in the month.

Up next

The scene shifts to Anaheim, where these two teams will complete the Freeway Series with two more games. Hyun-jin Ryu starts Wednesday night for the Dodgers in a 7:07 p.m. PT start, facing Alex Meyer for the Angels.

Tuesday particulars

Home run: Joc Pederson (7)

WP - Kenta Maeda (6-3): 7 IP, 4 hits, 6 strikeouts

LP - Jesse Chavez (5-8): 5⅓ IP, 2 hits, 2 runs, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts