Los Angeles

Joc Pederson's Grand Slam Guides Dodgers Over Diamondbacks

Joc Pederson hit his first career Grand Slam and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-0 to open their three game series.

Rookie outfielder Joc Pederson hit a grand slam and the Dodgers literally "slammed" the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-0 on Friday night.

The Dodgers started off the second inning with a solo shot by third baseman Justin Turner who has homered twice in his previous three games.

Five batters later, Pederson came up with the bases loaded and hit a first-pitch changeup 451 feet into the right center pavilion for his first career grand slam and third consecutive home run in as many games.

"I kind of blacked out to be honest," Pederson said. "When you start trying to hit it far, it doesn't go far, I just tried to put a good swing on it."

Pederson was hazed before his heroic at-bat after his teammates changed his walkout music to Hanson's "MMMBop" before the plate appearance. Pederson was literally still laughing when he hit his fifth home run of the year.

"Apparently we have some jokesters on the team who were messing around," laughed Pederson. "I was laughing at the walk-up song and then swung at the first pitch. It was pretty funny. They got me good."

The Dodgers tape measure soiree wasn't finished however as right fielder Andre Ehtier hit a moon shot to right field in the bottom of the sixth inning for his fourth round tripper of the season, matching his entire haul from last season.

"This is the best I've seen Andre swing the bat in a couple years," said Dodgers manager Don Mattingly. "The power is back, he seems dangerous right now. He said he wanted to play every day, and he's getting to play a lot."

The Dodgers now have a major league leading 35 homers on the season.

The Los Angeles carousel of starting pitchers continued as Carlos Frias made his first start of the season for the boys in blue and just his third ever start in his brief career.

"If you prepare your mind, prepare yourself mentally and physically you'll be able to compete at any level," said Frias of his start. "Anything I can do to help the team to win, I'll do it."

Primarily a reliever, Frias made two appearances last year with disparaging results. In his first start on Sept. 3, 2014 he went six scoreless innings to defeat the Washington Nationals. Two weeks later, he couldn't complete an inning after allowing 8 runs on 10 hits to the Colorado Rockies.

Frias (2-0) was fantastic on Friday however throwing 5 1/3 scoreless innings allowing just four hits and fanning three batters. Frias became the eight different starting pitcher for the Dodgers this season, tied for the most in the majors.

"Carlos was really good tonight," said Mattingly of Frias. "His balls had down movement tonight. He was really good."

Scott Van Slyke hit a two-run pinch-hit single for the Dodgers in the bottom of the eighth inning to extend his hitting streak to nine games and put a snowman on the scoreboard.

Rubby De La Rosa, who was acquired from the Red Sox in the offseason in a trade for Wade Miley, made the start for the Diamondbacks and like a dozen other starters before him, couldn't keep the Dodgers in the ballpark.

De La Rosa allowed five runs (all on home runs) on just three hits, striking out six over five innings of work.

J.P. Howell pitched a scoreless ninth for Los Angeles in relief as the Dodgers picked up their third shutout of the season and their largest margin of victory over the Snakes since July 7, 2004.

30-year-old Diamondbacks rookie Danny Dorn made his major league debut and singled to right off of Frias. Dorn is a Southern California native and had plenty of friends and family cheering for him from a suite behind home plate.

"It was definitely a moment that I'll remember forever. It was absolutely worth the wait," said Dorn.

Los Angeles improved to 11-2 at Dodger Stadium on the season, their best record since 2009. In all 11 home wins, the Dodgers have scored at least five runs.

Game Notes:
Kenley Jansen made his 2015 debut in Single-A Rancho Cucamonga. Jansen made 14 pitches against Inland Empire, allowing just one hit, with one strikeout. Former Dodger star, Eric Karros threw out the ceremonial first pitch for 50,164 fans in attendance.

Pederson became the second Dodgers rookie to hit three consecutive home runs in as many games, joining Alex Guerrero who hit also accomplished the feat. April 22-26.
 

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