The Dodgers’ Joc Pederson hits a home run in the bottom of the first inning of Wednesday’s game against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium. Pederson hit another one later in the game. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Dodger starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu #99 during their game against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium Wednesday September 4, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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Dodger starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu #99 during their game against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium Wednesday September 4, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela throws to a Los Angeles Dodgers batter during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson hits a solo home run against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela, center, stands near the mound after giving up a solo home run to Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The Dodgers’ Joc Pederson #31 rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the bottom of the first inning during their game against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium Wednesday September 4, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson, top, celebrates his solo home run with third base coach Dino Ebel during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The Dodgers’ Joc Pederson #31 is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a home run in the bottom of the first inning during their game against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium Wednesday September 4, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger drops his bat as he drives in a run with a single against the Colorado Rockies during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Justin Turner, right, is safe at first base on a fielder’s choice next to Colorado Rockies first baseman Ryan McMahon during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela throws to a Los Angeles Dodgers batter during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu throws to a Colorado Rockies batter during the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager makes an off-balance throw to first base after catching a line drive by Colorado Rockies’ Charlie Blackmon during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, in Los Angeles. Trevor Story was caught off first for a double play. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black watches from the dugout during the second inning of the team’s baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The Dodgers’ Joc Pederson #31 rounds the bases after hitting a two run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning during their game against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium Wednesday September 4, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Joc Pederson #31 rounds the bases after hitting a two run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning during their game against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium Wednesday September 4, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson celebrates his two-run home run against the Colorado Rockies during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson, right, celebrates his two-run home run with Hyun-Jin Ryu (99) during the fourth inning of the team’s baseball game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson (31) celebrates his two-run home run with Justin Turner (10) during the fourth inning of the team’s baseball game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The Dodgers’ Joc Pederson #31 reacts after hitting a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning during their game against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium Wednesday September 4, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Dodger outfielder Chris Taylor #3 fields a ball during their game against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium Wednesday September 4, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rockies starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela #49 during their game against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium Wednesday September 4, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu throws to the Colorado Rockies during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The Dodgers’ Corey Seager #5 throws to first base during their game against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium Wednesday September 4, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Corey Seager #5 throws to first base during their game against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium Wednesday September 4, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Dodger outfielder Chris Taylor #3 makes a diving catch on a deep fly ball hit by the Rockies Josh Fuentes #8 in the top of the fourth inning during their game at Dodger Stadium Wednesday September 4, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Dodger outfielder Chris Taylor #3 makes a diving catch on a deep fly ball hit by the Rockies Josh Fuentes #8 in the top of the fourth inning during their game at Dodger Stadium Wednesday September 4, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Former Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda receives a standing ovation during the Dodgers vs. Rockies game at Dodger Stadium Wednesday September 4, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Dodger starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu #99 during their game against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium Wednesday September 4, 2019. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Dodger pitcher Ross Stripling #68 during their game against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium Wednesday September 4, 2019. The Dodgers defeated the Rockies 7-3. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Rockies’ Trevor Story #27 throws out the Dodgers’ Chris Taylor #3 at first base in the bottom of the sixth inning during their game at Dodger Stadium Wednesday September 4, 2019. The Dodgers defeated the Rockies 7-3. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Justin Turner #10 fields a ground ball during their game against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium Wednesday September 4, 2019. The Dodgers defeated the Rockies 7-3. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Gavin Lux #48 fields a ground ball during their game against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium Wednesday September 4, 2019. The Dodgers defeated the Rockies 7-3. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Gavin Lux #48 throws to first base during their game against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium Wednesday September 4, 2019. The Dodgers defeated the Rockies 7-3. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Dodger pitcher Caleb Ferguson #64 during their game against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium Wednesday September 4, 2019. The Dodgers defeated the Rockies 7-3. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Corey Seager #5 makes a great stop on a ground ball hit by the Rockies’ Ryan McMahon #24 in the top of the eighth inning during their game at Dodger Stadium Wednesday September 4, 2019. The Dodgers defeated the Rockies 7-3. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Corey Seager #5 makes a great stop on a ground ball hit by the Rockies’ Ryan McMahon #24 in the top of the eighth inning during their game at Dodger Stadium Wednesday September 4, 2019. The Dodgers defeated the Rockies 7-3. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Corey Seager #5 throws to first base for the out after making a great stop on a ground ball hit by the Rockies’ Ryan McMahon #24 in the top of the eighth inning during their game at Dodger Stadium Wednesday September 4, 2019. The Dodgers defeated the Rockies 7-3. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Dodger pitcher Pedro Baez #52 during their game against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium Wednesday September 4, 2019. The Dodgers defeated the Rockies 7-3. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Dodger pitcher Pedro Baez #52 during their game against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium Wednesday September 4, 2019. The Dodgers defeated the Rockies 7-3. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson, right, is high-fived by Corey Seager after the team’s 7-3 win over the Colorado Rockies in a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 04: Cody Bellinger #35, Joc Pederson #31and Chris Taylor #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate after defeating the Colorado Rockies, 7-3, at Dodger Stadium on September 4, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES — They hit home runs during the day. They hit home runs at night. They hit wall-scrapers and others that seem to soar out of sight. They hit them to lead off, walk off or just show off a baseball in flight.
Joc Pederson hit two home runs in his first three plate appearances Wednesday – just as he did before leaving Monday’s game with an injury – and the Dodgers broke the National League’s single-season home run record during a 7-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
The win trimmed the Dodgers’ magic number to clinch their seventh consecutive NL West title to four. Both the Dodgers and second-place Arizona Diamondbacks are off Thursday.
“A lot of good players,” Pederson said when asked the fuel behind the NL record 250 home runs (with 20 games still to play). “One through 12 – 15, really with all the guys who got called up and contribute. Muncy, Belly obviously contribute for a lot of them. JT, Kiké, Chris Taylor, Will Smith – just go down the list. Anyone can beat you at any time. It’s a special unit that we have and it’s fun to be a part of it.”
Pederson hit four of the Dodgers’ 12 home runs in a three-game sweep of the Rockies despite missing the middle game. He was back in the starting lineup on Wednesday after nursing sore ribs suffered when he ran into the right field wall while making a catch on Monday.
He picked up right where he left off, hammering a 1-and-2 fastball in the bottom of the first inning over the same wall that had done him harm. It was Pederson’s eighth leadoff home run this season (tying the franchise record).
In the third inning, Pederson walked and scored one of the four runs that put the Dodgers in control.
In the fourth inning, Pederson added to the lead when he hammered a two-run home run. The 250th home run of the season for the Dodgers broke the previous NL record held by the 2000 Houston Astros.
It was Pederson’s fifth home run in a span of seven plate appearances starting with his pinch-hit, game-winning home run in the 11th inning at Arizona on Sunday.
“Joc is a guy that … he’s streaky,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Sometimes you’ve got to sort of ride the lows out when he’s trying to find it. But these last 10, 12 at-bats he’s really been locked in. … Staying in the strike zone and when they make a mistake out over the plate, it’s a homer. Just that confidence you see building.”
Andre Ethier gets credit for supplying the lumber.
The Phoenix-area resident came to Saturday’s game in Arizona and visited with his former team, giving Pederson one of his old bats. Pederson used it to hit a pinch-hit, game-winning home run in the 11th inning Sunday and has used it ever since. That bat is 6 for 7 with a double (that just missed being a home run) and five home runs.
“That’s a good bat,” Pederson said with a smile. “He texted me after the game. I’m going to tell him there better be some more coming.”
With Wednesday’s walk mixed in, Pederson was the first player to hit five home runs in a span of six at-bats since Josh Hamilton did it with the Texas Rangers in May of 2012.
When Pederson struck out in the sixth inning, it ended a streak of six consecutive at-bats with an extra-base hit, tying the National League record held by Larry Walker with the Rockies on May 21-22, 1996.
But all the longballs couldn’t part the clouds that have gathered over Hyun-Jin Ryu.
For the third consecutive start, Ryu didn’t make it through five innings. He gave up 10 baserunners in 4-1/3 innings, four on walks – the most he has walked since his first start of the 2018 season.
Only three scored (thanks in part to a diving catch by Chris Taylor in left field), but Ryu has a 9.95 ERA (21 runs in 19 innings) and 2.05 WHIP over his past four games. Opposing batters have hit .360 off Ryu in those games.
“It’s command. It’s just command,” Roberts said, declining suggestions that it could be fatigue causing the lack of sharpness.
“His money-maker is the changeup. Even when there’s contact, it’s just a tick too high and when you’re talking about big-league hitters a few inches is a big deal. There were some good ones in there. There were some good curveballs. But I think overall, with the command, he’s off just a little bit.”
Ryu’s ERA has risen to 2.45 for the season – still the lowest among MLB starting pitchers but the highest it has been since his May 7 start. Ryu was a clear frontrunner for the NL Cy Young Award and a Game 1 start in the postseason when August started. Both of those things are now very much open to debate.
In the days before Wednesday’s start, Ryu worked on his mechanics, seeking to fix some slippage in his arm slot and a tendency to open up his torso too soon in his delivery. Poor balance created by those flaws has thrown off his balance, Ryu said.
“My arm slot became lower in recent outings. I came to the realization and I wanted to make some adjustments to make sure it’s not as low,” Ryu said through his interpreter.
“I was more conscious early on the game. But it wasn’t as crisp as I want it to be. Obviously I still have to make more adjustments and get back on track.”
