Dodgers 9, D’Backs 5: Seager and Pederson shine in win

Just as it was drawn up in spring training. Corey Seager and Joc Pederson led the Dodgers to a 9-5 win on Saturday night in Arizona.

The Dodgers jumped all over Rubby De La Rosa, who was ineffective in his 2+ innings of work (9 H, 6 R, 1 K). Carl Crawford got things started with a line drive leadoff home run to right field. He has been swinging th ebat awfully well of late, but he was lifted in favor of Scott Schebler in the fifth inning. He closed the bottom of the fourth by running in and picking off a fly ball, so perhaps something happened there to get him the early hook.

Seager went 4-for-4 with a double, three RBIs, a stolen base and his first MLB home run. It was a 110 MPH shot down the right field line. The funny thing is, the pitch before was fouled down the left field line and a Diamondback fan in the crowd stuck his glove out and robbed Arizona left fielder David Peralta of what looked to be a pretty easy catch. He was pissed. Oh well.

Pederson, who was hitting .259/.412/.407 on the month coming into the game, went 3-for-5 with his 25th home run of the season. He hit it off lefty Andrew Chafin on a hanging curveball. It was his fifth home run off a left-handed pitcher. As long as Enrique Hernandez is out, Pederson should be starting everyday, as it seems he’s finding a nice groove. Adrian Gonzalez added his 27th home run of the season and Andre Ethier chipped in two hits of his own.

Speaking of ineffective, Mike Bolsinger was just that tonight: 3 2/3 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, 80 pitches, 46 strikes, 4/2 GO/AO. He didn’t have command of any of his pitches, and it showed. He came out in the fourth inning with the bases loaded and two outs. J.P. Howell got a fly ball from Peralta that Crawford snagged. The bullpen got a workout, as the Dodgers used seven pitchers in relief of Bolsinger. It pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowed three hits, two runs and struck out six.

The Dodgers improve to 81-60 on the season and remain 7 1/2 games ahead of the Giants. Their magic number to clinch the West is down to 14. Zack Greinke (16-3, 1.68 ERA) toes the rubber against Patrick Corbin (5-3, 3.32). First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. Pacific time.