Joc Pederson And Matt Kemp Combine For 3 Home Runs, Dodgers Use 8-Run Inning To Rout Rockies
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Joc Pederson and Matt Kemp combined for three home runs, and the Los Angeles Dodgers used an eight-run inning to defeat the Colorado Rockies, 12-4. Los Angeles clinched a fourth series win in the last five opportunities and moved to within two games of first place in the National League West.

In addition to his home runs, Pederson added a double and finished 4-for-5. The multi-home run game was the fifth of Pederson’s career. His solo homer in the fourth inning cut the Dodgers’ deficit in half, and his blast in the sixth tied the game.

Chris Taylor opened what turned out to be a huge seventh inning by leading off with a single. After Justin Turner’s base hit to right field put runners at the corners, Yasmani Grandal’s fielder’s choice brought in the go-ahead run.

Grandal beating out a potential double play loomed large as Kemp followed with a line-drive two-run home run to left field. The homer was Kemp’s team-leading ninth this season and a second in as many games.

Breyvic Valera’s two-run single with the bases loaded then blew the game open. The Dodgers added to their lead on a wild pitch and Taylor’s two-run triple. The eight-run inning was their first since pushing across that many in a road game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Aug. 8, 2016.

Walker Buehler endured a rocky second inning en route to otherwise giving the Dodgers another good start. Tony Wolters’ RBI single got the Rockies on the board, DJ LeMahieu’s two-run double gave them a 3-2 lead, and Charlie Blackmon’s run-scoring single extended it.

Buehler induced a double play to strand a pair of runners in the third inning, and proceeded to retire seven of the final eight batters faced. Buehler allowed just the four runs over five innings of work.

He was backed by Pedro Baez and Scott Alexander each tossing an inning of relief, and Daniel Hudson going two scoreless to wrap up the win.

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