Pederson homers, surging Dodgers top listless Pirates 5-0
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The stadium was different. So was the atmosphere, the stakes and even the uniform Joe Musgrove was wearing. The results when Joc Pederson stepped into the batter’s box against Musgrove were not.
Seven months after taking Musgrove deep twice in the World Series, Pederson’s two-run homer helped propel the surging Los Angeles Dodgers to a 5-0 victory over Musgrove and the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night.
Musgrove won a World Series ring as a reliever in Houston last season, but both at bats against Pederson in the Fall Classic ended with the Los Angeles center fielder trotting around the bases. Pederson made it three homers in three at bats against Musgrove when he sent a cutter that didn’t cut into the right-field seats in the second inning.
Asked why he’s had such success against Musgrove, Pederson just shrugged.
“I don’t know,” Pederson said after hitting his third home run in three games. “I was able to capitalize on a mistake today.”
Something the surging Dodgers are doing plenty of lately. Yaisel Puig and Cody Bellinger also homered for the Dodgers, who have won four straight and 14 of 18 to climb back to .500 (30-30) for the first time since April 24 despite a rash of injuries that have decimated the defending National League champions.
“We’ve kind of stayed the course and kept playing and not letting things that we can’t control affect us,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Credit goes to all the players and the coaches. They’ve been going at it. For us to get back to .500, we’re back in the mix. So now the goal is to keep playing good baseball.”
Ross Stripling (4-1) remained unbeaten as a starter this season, striking out seven while giving up four singles in five innings. Stripling moved into the starting rotation out of necessity in late April and is making a case to stay there regardless of who is available.