The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson celebrates with manager Dave Roberts after his fifth inning home run off of Houston Astros starter Justin Verlander during game two of the World Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA on Wednesday, October 25, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson #31 connects for a solo homer in the 5th inning. The Los Angeles Dodgers played host to the Houston Astros in game 2 of the World Series. Los Angeles, CA 10/25/2017 (Photo by John McCoy, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson hits a home run against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning of Game 2 of baseball’s World Series Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers Joc Pederson, #31, drove this ball deep for a solo HR in the fifth inning of game two of the World Series at Wednesday, October 25, 2017. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson hits a home run during the fifth inning of Game 2 of baseball’s World Series against the Houston Astros Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson tracks the flight of his fifth-inning solo home run. The blast was the team’s first hit off Astros ace Justin Verlander and tied the score, 1-1. (Photo by John McCoy, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson watches his fifth inning home run off of Houston Astros starter Justin Verlander during game two of the World Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA on Wednesday, October 25, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson hits a home run during the fifth inning of Game 2 of baseball’s World Series against the Houston Astros Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Dodgers Joc Pederson, #31, rounds the bases as Astros Justin Verlander looks on with a solo HR in the fifth inning of game two of the World Series at Wednesday, October 25, 2017. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson watches his home run off Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander during the fifth inning of Game 2 of baseball’s World Series Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson celebrates after his home run against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning of Game 2 of baseball’s World Series Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson celebrates after his home run against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning of Game 2 of baseball’s World Series Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodger fans celebrate after Joc Pederson’s fifth inning home run off of Houston Astros starter Justin Verlander during game two of the World Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA on Wednesday, October 25, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson celebrates after his home run against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning of Game 2 of baseball’s World Series Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson celebrates after his home run against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning of Game 2 of baseball’s World Series Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson celebrates after his home run against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning of Game 2 of baseball’s World Series Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson celebrates with third base coach Chris Woodward after his fifth inning home run off of Houston Astros starter Justin Verlander during game two of the World Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA on Wednesday, October 25, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson reacts after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of Game 2 of baseball’s World Series against the Houston Astros Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson is congratulated by third base coach Chris Woodward (45) after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of Game 2 of baseball’s World Series against the Houston Astros Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Dodgers Joc Pederson, #31, celebrates his solo HR with Chase Utley in the fifth inning of game two of the World Series at Wednesday, October 25, 2017. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson celebrates after his home run against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning of Game 2 of baseball’s World Series Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson celebrates after his home run against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning of Game 2 of baseball’s World Series Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson #31 is welcomed into the dugout by Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts #30 after a solo homer in the 5th inning. The Los Angeles Dodgers played host to the Houston Astros in game 2 of the World Series. Los Angeles, CA 10/25/2017 (Photo by John McCoy, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson celebrates in the dugout with manager Dave Roberts after his home run against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning of Game 2 of baseball’s World Series Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson #31 is welcomed into the dugout by Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts #30 after a solo homer in the 5th inning. The Los Angeles Dodgers played host to the Houston Astros in game 2 of the World Series. Los Angeles, CA 10/25/2017 (Photo by John McCoy, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson is congratulated by manager Dave Roberts after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of Game 2 of baseball’s World Series against the Houston Astros Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
LOS ANGELES — Justin Verlander did not make a mistake in Game 2 of the World Series until the fifth inning.
Joc Pederson was waiting for it.
Making his second start of the postseason, Pederson crushed a hanging slider to left field for a home run against Verlander, tying the score 1-1. It was the Dodgers’ first hit of the game.
To this point in October, Curtis Granderson and Andre Ethier had gotten more starts in left field against right-handed pitchers than Pederson. All three players bat left-handed.
Ethier, however, began Game 2 on the bench. Granderson was left off the World Series roster entirely. Roberts said he gave Pederson the start Wednesday because “I like Joc a little bit better with the velocity, and I think Joc is a better defender in left field, too.”
Verlander was still touching 97 mph with his fastball in his final inning. Pederson only had one hit on a fastball 95 mph or faster this season, and that was in July. But he saw only three fastballs in his first two plate appearances against the veteran right-hander.
In the second inning, Pederson was facing a 1-and-1 count when Verlander snuck back-to-back curveballs over the plate for strikes. In the fifth inning, Verlander started Pederson with back-to-back curveballs again, only to fall behind 0-and-2. He came back with the fastball, and Pederson fouled it off.
Then came the mistake: an 88-mph slider over the meaty middle of home plate. Pederson drove it an estimated 370 feet to left field, transforming Dodger Stadium from a library to a fiesta.
Pederson pointed into the stands as he rounded first base, then again as he trotted from home plate into an elated dugout. Not counting the simulated game earlier this month in which Pederson hit a home run against teammate Alex Wood, it was his first homer since July 26.
Pederson wasn’t on the Dodgers’ 25-man roster for the NL Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, after ending the season in a 6-for-63 slump.
While Pederson was limited to simulated games during the NLDS, Roberts said he noticed a change.
“He’s in his legs a little bit more, more consistent mechanically,” Roberts said before Game 2. “And so I think for us is it hasn’t really translated into production. And he hasn’t had those opportunities really, to be fair to him. But, in this one case, I think he’s going to put some at-bats together against (Verlander).”