Field Level Media
Jul 3, 2018
Matt Kemp had five hits Monday, including a home run, and drove in four runs as the Los Angeles Dodgers rolled to a 17-1 victory over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates.
Cody Bellinger, Joc Pederson and Max Muncy added home runs as the Dodgers collected a season high in runs and hits (21). Yasmani Grandal reached base in his first five trips to the plate while Yasiel Puig added three hits and four RBIs. Every Dodgers starter had a hit by the fourth inning.
Kemp not only went 5-for-5 on Monday; he has hits in eight consecutive at-bats going back to Sunday's contest against the Colorado Rockies. Those eight consecutive hits have come in a span of 18 pitches.
"It was fun -- it was a fun night for us to get the offense going," Kemp said on the SportsNet LA broadcast. "It was an all-around team win and everybody contributed."
Pederson and Muncy, who each had 10 home runs in June, hit back-to-back homers to open a six-run fourth inning. Pederson hit his 12th, and Muncy hit his team-leading 18th. Bellinger's home run to center field in the third inning was his 17th.
The Dodgers batted around in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, the first time in Los Angeles Dodgers history they sent at least nine batters to the plate in three consecutive innings. It was the first time it happened in the major leagues since the New York Yankees did it in four consecutive innings in a 2011 game.
Pirates rookie starter Nick Kingham (2-4) gave up seven runs (five earned) on eight hits over three innings with two strikeouts and three walks.
Pirates right-hander Tanner Anderson made his major league debut in relief of Kingham, giving up six runs (five earned) on eight hits over two innings.
Dodgers starter Alex Wood (5-5) gave up one run on six hits over six innings with no walks. Wood won his fourth consecutive start, posting a combined 2.19 ERA in those outings.
Rookie Caleb Ferguson closed out the victory with a scoreless three innings to earn his first career save.
The Dodgers scored runs in five of the first six innings and easily bested their previous high for runs in a game this season, which was 15 on April 28 against the San Francisco Giants.
The Dodgers improved to 4-4 on their 10-game homestand and have won 29 of their last 42 games since May 17. The Pirates are 4-3 on their nine-game road trip.
--Field Level Media