While the Los Angeles Dodgers fell short in their comeback bid Saturday night, they jumped on the Miami Marlins early in the four-game series finale and never relented.
Los Angeles was led by Adrian Gonzalez and Yasmani Grandal, who combined to go 6-for-8 with four doubles. For Gonzalez, it was his first game with multiple extra-base hits since April 23, and his first three-hit performance since Aug. 22, 2016.
The veteran first baseman paced the Dodgers with three RBI in their 6-3 win. For Grandal, he now has at least one extra-base hit in eight of his past 11 games.
Behind a blistering stretch, Grandal is batting .299/.362/.496 with 13 doubles and four home runs this season.
With the Dodgers leading 2-0 in the fourth inning, Joc Pederson slugged a solo home run off Vance Worley. The homer was Pederson’s first since hitting a grand slam on Opening Day.
The 25-year-old wore a grin as he rounded the bases. “You can see the boyish smile of him running around the bases. That’s Joc,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
Pederson said he was not attempting to hit a home run, but has placed a renewed focus on elevating the ball. “I’ve been struggling a bit to get the ball in the air,” he said. “It was nice to do it and get one on the barrel.”
Pederson credited his home run to work with Dodgers roving hitting instructor Shawn Wooten over the past week and said he’s hopeful to use it as a building block.
The Dodgers finished with six doubles, which set a season high. That surpassed the five doubles hit against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on May 11.
