Recap: Pederson Has Big Night, Guerrero Hits Grand Slam In Dodgers Win
After dropping the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader, the Los Angeles Dodgers turned to Zack Greinke as they looked to bounce back against the Colorado Rockies. Whereas the Dodgers went with a veteran pitcher in the second game, the Rockies called up David Hale for his second start with the club this season.
Kiké Hernandez got the Dodgers on the board early with a one-out solo home run in the first inning. Adrian Gonzalez flied out to left field and Hale struck out Yasmani Grandal to end the inning. Greinke protected the 1-0 lead by sitting the Rockies down in order, all on groundball outs.
Hale’s second inning of work was much easier as he only allowed a two-out single to Jimmy Rollins. Carlos Gonzalez led off the bottom of the second with a base hit to left field, but he was then erased on Nolan Arenado’s double play ball that Hernandez, playing second base, made a leaping catch on after the ball skipped off the mound, stepped on second and threw to first.
Ben Paulsen was called out on strikes and Greinke had a second scoreless inning in the books. Having hit three home runs in the last three games, including a 477-foot shot in Tuesday’s first game, Joc Pederson belted another home run to give the Dodgers a 2-0 lead.
Hernandez remained perfect on the night with a single to left, and he came around to score on Adrian Gonzalez’s two-run home run. Nick Hundley and Brandon Barnes hit back-to-back singles in the third and were sacrificed into scoring position on Hale’s bunt.
Charlie Blackmon drove the ball to deep center field that Pederson tracked down, but both runners tagged and the Dodgers’ lead was cut to 4-1. DJ LeMahieu’s base hit drove in another run and the Dodgers led 4-2 before Greinke managed to get out of the inning.
CONTINUE READING: Alex Guerrero Saves The Dodgers In The 9th