Rookie Segedin gets four RBIs as Dodgers defeat Red Sox
LOS ANGELES -- Rookie Rob Segedin had four RBIs in his major league debut, sparking the Los Angeles Dodgers to an 8-5 victory over the Boston Red Sox before 50,640 at Dodger Stadium on Sunday.
Justin Turner homered and Adrian Gonzalez and Enrique Hernandez hit back-to-back long balls in the seventh for the Dodgers (62-49), who took two of three from the Red Sox (60-50). Gonzalez's solo shot off reliever Junichi Tazawa was the 300th of his career.
The 27-year-old Segedin, who was brought up from Triple-A Oklahoma City earlier Sunday, got the start in left and went 2-for-3.
Aaron Hill, Andrew Benintendi, who finished with two RBIs, and Mookie Betts each drove in a run in the sixth to cut the Dodgers' margin to 6-5, but reliever Joe Blanton fanned Jackie Bradley Jr. looking to end the inning.
Red Sox starter David Price (9-8) served up six runs (three earned) on five hits with five walks and three strikeouts. Three Boston errors didn't help his cause.
Jesus Chavez (2-2) struck out two in 1 1/3 innings for the win. Closer Kenley Jansen worked a perfect ninth for his 34th save.
Brandon McCarthy lasted just 3 2/3 innings before Dodgers manager Dave Roberts gave him the hook. McCarthy surrendered two runs on two hits with five walks, a hit a batter and two wild pitches.
Betts scored on a sacrifice fly by Xander Bogaerts for a 1-0 Boston lead with two outs in the first.
In the fourth, an RBI single by Benintendi made it 2-0.
Turner drilled an off-speed pitch by Price into the bleachers in left in the bottom of the fourth to slice the lead in half. It was Turner's 20th home run.
Segedin lined a two-run double to right-center to score Adrian Gonzalez and Josh Reddick for a 3-2 Los Angeles edge with one out in the fourth. After an intentional walk to pinch-hitter Scott Van Slyke loaded the bases, Price got out of the jam by inducing Howie Kendrick to bounce into a 1-2-3 double play.
A throwing error in the fifth by Bogaerts allowed Turner to score for a 4-2 Dodgers' lead. Segedin drove home two more runs with a run-scoring single in the inning for a four-run Dodgers' cushion. The four RBIs are the most by a Dodgers' player in his debut.
NOTES: Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw (herniated disk) played catch Sunday, the first time he's thrown a baseball since suffering a setback with his back after a simulated game July 17. Kershaw, who was transferred to the 60-day disabled list Aug. 3, isn't expected to rejoin the club until September. "It's significant that he played catch, and we're all excited about it," manager Dave Roberts said. ... Red Sox INF David Ortiz (general soreness) and INF Hanley Ramirez (sore left wrist) were not in the starting lineup. ... The Dodgers selected the contract of INF/OF Rob Segedin from Triple-A Oklahoma City. To make room, INF Chris Taylor was optioned to Oklahoma City. ... Dodgers LHP Julio Urias (1-2, 4.98 ERA) will face Phillies RHP Zach Eflin (3-4, 4.77 ERA) in the opening contest of a three-game set Monday at Dodger Stadium. ... Boston is off Monday.