Dodgers double their pleasure in Detroit

The Dodgers hit a season-high six doubles to beat the Tigers on Friday night, 8-5 in the opener of a three-game series at Comerica Park, running the latest Los Angeles winning streak to five games.

Extra bases have been plentiful for the Dodgers all season, with the team on pace to set franchise records in both doubles and home runs in 2017. The six doubles on Friday matched the May 21 output against the Marlins.

Chris Taylor, per usual, was also in the mix of the Dodgers’ scoring rallies, with run-scoring doubles in both the second and fourth innings. For good measure, he added a single in the sixth, another run-scoring stanza for LA, then singled again in the eighth inning for his third four-hit game of the season.

Taylor since the All-Star break has 22 extra-base hits in 30 games, hitting .361/.409/.689.

Logan Forsythe had one of the doubles on Friday, and added a single and walk as well, scoring three times. It was the second straight game reaching base three times for Forsythe, who is hitting .314/.457/.400 in 12 August games.

Joc Pederson also chimed in with a double. Trying out a new batting stance in the middle of a prolonged slump, Pederson’s fourth-inning RBI double followed a 1-for-39 skid.

All six doubles came against Tigers starter Jordan Zimmermann, who entered Friday with the third-worst ERA in baseball (5.62), and somehow managed to raise it by a quarter of a run. With seven runs allowed for his second straight outing, Zimmermann now sports a 5.87 ERA, now worst in MLB.

The Dodgers have 239 doubles on the season, second in the National League. They are on pace for 323 on the season, which would surpass the franchise-best 307 doubles hit by the 2006 team.

Happy return

Adrian Gonzalez wasted no time welcoming himself back to the lineup, whacking a double to right field in the second inning, in his first at-bat back after missing 55 games with a herniated disc in his back.

It was the 1,997th hit of Gonzalez’s career.

That was part of a four-run second inning for the Dodgers, a frame that saw two doubles and a two-run single by Corey Seager.

Gonzalez also made an impression in the field. With the Dodgers up three in the eighth inning, but the tying run at the plate with two outs, Gonzalez leaped to snag a line drive by Ian Kinsler to end the threat.

Gonzalez added a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning to widen the Dodgers’ lead to four.

Familiar foe

Justin Upton was menacing as advertised, continuing his hot hitting in the series opener. He hit a ball with home run distance — 428 feet -- in the first inning, but it was hit to the deepest part of the ballpark in center field so he settled for an RBI double, off the glove of a leaping Joc Pederson.

Upton decided to pull the ball in his next at-bat, this time lofting the ball deep to left field, this time over the wall, also off the glove of a Dodgers outfielder, with Cody Bellinger just missing a spectacular catch over the wall.

In the ninth, Upton capped his night with a solo shot against Kenley Jansen, his fourth hit on the night.

Rich Hill has allowed 13 home runs this season, but all have been solo shots.

Hill allowed three runs in his five innings, but buoyed by the offense he won up his fifth consecutive decision. Hill struck out five.

Up next

Hyun-jin Ryu gets the start on Saturday afternoon, a 1:05 p.m. PT start televised by both SportsNet LA and Fox Sports 1, with no blackout on the latter. The Tigers will counter with Michael Fulmer.

Saturday particulars

Home runs: Justin Upton 2 (25), Victor Martinez (10)

WP - Rich Hill (9-4): 5 IP, 6 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts

LP - Jordan Zimmermann (7-10): 5⅓ IP, 10 hits, 7 runs, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts