LDN - Sports

Dodgers use five-run eighth to beat White Sox

[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.

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