The Los Angeles Dodgers closed out their road trip on a positive note against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday afternoon, winning 8-7 despite requiring their bullpen to get all 27 outs after starter Dennis Santana was scratched minutes before first pitch due to lat soreness that will require an MRI.
The Dodgers offense enjoyed plenty of success over the six-game road trip, averaging 9.17 runs per contest en route to five wins and series victories over the Colorado Rockies and Pirates.
A big reason for that has been the production from Joc Pederson, who had perhaps the best week of his career. It concluded a 3-for-5 performance with two home runs, three RBI and three runs scored on Thursday.
Overall in five games on the trip, Pederson went 8-for-17 (.471 batting average) with five home runs, seven RBI and eight runs scored.
Pederson was very candid in admitting that he simply just feels good when he steps into the batter’s box right now, via Andy McCullough of the L.A. Times:
“I feel good,” Pederson said. “I think I’d been [a jerk] to say I didn’t feel locked in.”
After a rough Spring Training, Pederson was in danger of not making the team to begin the season, although he has quietly rewarded the coaching staff and front office for sticking with him.
Overall on the season, he is now batting .272/.347/.510 with six home runs and 25 RBI, with five of those six long balls coming in the last week.
With Matt Kemp swinging the bat well, and Pederson, Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy, Yasiel Puig and Chris Taylor also all beginning to perform much in recent weeks, the Dodgers offense is shaping up to be a very good one even without Justin Turner yet to produce at his normal rate.
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