Major League Baseball

Pederson's 1st career slam helps Dodgers rout D-backs 8-0

Published May. 2, 2015 1:20 a.m. ET

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LOS ANGELES (AP) Dodgers rookie Joc Pederson keeps following the advice of manager Don Mattingly.

The prized but unassuming center fielder hit his first career grand slam, and Andre Ethier and Justin Turner had solo shots as Los Angeles routed the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-0 Friday night.

''Donnie told me from day one that it's about putting together quality at-bats,'' Pederson said. ''They weren't worried about the results. They saw what I could do. I still need to continue to put together quality at-bats. We're only a month into the season. So it's not how you start, but how you finish.''

Carlos Frias (2-0) came out of the Dodgers' bullpen to make a spot start for Brandon McCarthy, who had season-ending Tommy John surgery on Thursday. The 25-year-old rookie struck out three and walked one over 5 1-3 sharp innings in his third big league start.

''I think you saw tonight what he's capable of,'' Turner said. ''He's got unbelievable stuff, and he throws 95-98 (mph) with a lot of sink and he can command his pitches. He was using his three pitches and working both sides of the plate. And with a live arm, that's a pretty good recipe to be successful.''

Harmless singles by Yasmany Tomas in the second and Paul Goldschmidt in the fourth were Arizona's only hits until the sixth, when Danny Dorn pinch-hit for pitcher Rubby De La Rosa and led off with a single for his first hit in four major league at-bats.

Dorn, who played college ball about 40 miles down the freeway at Cal State Fullerton, was promoted to the big leagues for the first time last Tuesday from Triple-A Reno - at age 30 - after nine minor league seasons and 3,252 at-bats. He was a 32nd-round draft pick by the Cincinnati Reds in 2006.

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

A.J. Pollock followed with a sharp single before Frias struck out Chris Owings with his 70th and final pitch. Pedro Baez retired Goldschmidt before four-time Gold Glove shortstop Jimmy Rollins booted Mark Trumbo's grounder for his fifth error. But the right-hander struck out David Peralta with the bases loaded.

De La Rosa (2-2) gave up five runs and three hits. The former Dodgers right-hander had to fight through a 10-pitch at-bat by the third batter he faced, Howie Kendrick, who fouled off five consecutive two-strike pitches before he went down swinging.

The Dodgers, who hit three home runs in the first inning against San Francisco's Ryan Vogelsong in a 7-3 win Wednesday night, grabbed a 5-0 lead in the second when Justin Turner led off with his second of the season and Pederson also connected for the Dodgers' first grand slam since June 6, 2013.

''It was just one inning. Rubby got in trouble with some walks, and Pederson put a good swing on a changeup. That's four runs right there,'' Arizona catcher Tuffy Gosewisch said. ''If you give up free passes, you're going to get penalized for it.''

Ethier made it 6-0 in the sixth with a two-out homer off Daniel Hudson, and pinch-hitter Scott Van Slyke added a two-run single in the eighth.

''Normally, the reputation here is that at night time, that little dew sets in,'' Turner said of the sudden rash of homers at Dodger Stadium. ''But we haven't really seen that yet, so I think that's a direct reflection on why the ball is flying a little bit better - because there's not as much moisture in the air right now.''

TRAINER'S ROOM

Diamondbacks: Rookie RHP Archie Bradley, who went on the disabled list after being struck in the face by a line drive Tuesday, is slated to throw a bullpen session Saturday. Bradley's scheduled start next Tuesday will go to LHP Robbie Ray, currently at Reno.

Dodgers: Los Angeles closer Kenley Jansen began a rehab assignment with Class A Rancho Cucamonga, throwing 14 pitches against Inland Empire and giving up a hit. He is recovering from surgery in February to have a benign growth removed from his left foot.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (1-3) is 4-15 with a 5.65 ERA in 27 starts since July 26, 2013, when he won his sixth straight decision in a span of seven starts with Tampa Bay. The 2011 AL Rookie of the Year made his only appearance against the Dodgers on Aug. 11 that season in an 8-2 road loss to Clayton Kershaw.

Dodgers: RHP Scott Baker (0-1) makes his second start since the club signed him on April 4 to a minor league contract, following his release by the Yankees. The 11-year veteran, who missed the 2012 season because of elbow problems that required Tommy John surgery, allowed three runs in seven innings last Sunday at San Diego in a 3-1 loss after being recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

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