Dodgers use five-run eighth to beat White Sox
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[August 16, 2017]
LOS ANGELES -- Joc Pederson is
in a hitting slump, but he won Tuesday's game for the Los Angeles
Dodgers in the batter's box in a more unconventional way.
With the bases loaded in the eighth inning of a tie game against the
Chicago White Sox, Pederson got hit by a pitch in the leg courtesy
of reliever Jake Petricka to knock in the go-ahead run.
That led the Dodgers to a 6-1 win over the Chicago White Sox.
Los Angeles used a five-run eighth inning to turn a tight game into
a rout. After Pederson was plunked with the bases loaded, pinch
hitter Austin Barnes delivered a two-run single, as did Corey
Seager.
After the game, closer Kenley Jansen jokingly said to Pederson in
the clubhouse: "Hey, Joc, that was really big. Way to finally come
through."
The Dodgers, a major-league-best 84-34, moved to 50 games above .500
for the first time since 1953. This was their 37th comeback victory.
"When you look at the win-loss, it's remarkable," Los Angeles
manager Dave Roberts said. "We're going to celebrate tonight, like
we do after we win, but we will refocus and it will be fun having Yu
(Darvish) on the mound (Wednesday) making his home debut.
"Fifty games over .500 is kind of unchartered territory. We're
playing good baseball."
The White Sox's season is completely opposite, and the bullpen woes
continued for Chicago (45-71).
"The hit-by-pitch obviously didn't do us any favors," Petricka said.
"Dug a little hole myself, and they just found some holes ... It's
just next batter. I felt like I kept good focus. It was one pitch
yanked a little too much and caught his hip."
Chicago's Tim Anderson continued his hot hitting, belting a home run
to left field on the first pitch of the game. It was the fourth
career leadoff home run for Anderson, who has four home runs and
eight RBIs in his past seven games.
Dodgers starter Alex Wood gave up the solo shot, then was masterful.
In the sixth, with a runner on third and two outs, Wood got pinch
hitter Alen Hanson out on a called third strike. The lefty threw a
big fist-pump after keeping the game tied at 1.
Wood allowed one run on six hits and no walks in seven innings while
striking out six. His lone mistake was Anderson's home run, the
first of his 79 pitches. He did not get a decision, though, failing
in a bid to improve to 15-1.
"He just jumped on it," Wood said of Anderson's home run. "First
pitch of the game, heater. Maybe left it up a little bit. It was out
over. He was definitely looking heater. It surprised me a little bit
how he turned and burned on that to start the game. After that, we
settled down and made some quality pitches."
Brandon Morrow (5-0) got the win with one scoreless inning.
White Sox starter Miguel Gonzalez pitched well and made a quality
start, allowing just one run on five hits in six innings. He struck
out four and walked three in an emotional game as it was his first
time pitching in Dodger Stadium.
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White Sox starting pitcher Miguel Gonzalez (58) throws in the first
inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory
Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Gonzalez was born in Mexico, but his family moved to
San Fernando -- a city outside Los Angeles -- when he was 4. He
graduated from San Fernando High and then attended Los Angeles
Mission College. He went to plenty of Dodgers games sitting in the
upper-deck seats.
"There were a lot of emotions," Gonzalez said. "I had
my family here. My friends. When I was stretching in the outfield
right before I started warming up, everyone was there supporting.
They were pretty pumped about it.
"It just got me going right off the get-go. There's a lot of
memories here growing up. It was fun."
His parents and many other family members and friends were in
attendance. His wife, Lucia, who just gave birth to their second
child a few days ago, was back in Chicago.
Juan Minaya (1-1), who allowed one hit and one run in one-plus
inning, took the loss.
In the sixth inning, the Dodgers' Cody Bellinger used his speed to
reach via an infield single. Yasmani Grandal singled and Yasiel Puig
drew a walk to load the bases. A Logan Forsythe sacrifice fly scored
Bellinger from third to tie the game at 1.
Puig was moved up to sixth in the batting order on Tuesday because
of his consistency in at-bats, according to Roberts. He went 0-for-2
with two walks.
Forsythe and Pederson, who have been struggling as of late, were
dropped to seventh and eighth in the order, respectively. Still,
Pederson found a way to help the Dodgers clinch yet another comeback
win.
NOTES: The Dodgers traded RHP Chris Hatcher to Oakland for
international bonus pool money. The reliever was not going to get
much work in the stacked Los Angeles bullpen, according to manager
Dave Roberts .... Dodgers OF Rob Segedin (toe strain, wrist surgery)
was activated from the 60-day disabled list ... The White Sox
reinstated RHP Dylan Covey (left oblique strain) from the disabled
list. ... White Sox C Geovany Soto (right elbow surgery) is expected
to miss the rest of the season .... 1B Adrian Gonzalez (back) will
make the Dodgers' next road trip, which starts Friday in Detroit.
Gonzalez last played in a game on June 11. ... White Sox INF Matt
Davidson (right wrist bruise) had a rehab setback caused by
irritation. There was no structural damage, but his return date is
unknown. [© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All
rights reserved.]
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