Pederson propels Dodgers past Padres
SAN DIEGO -- Joc Pederson had three RBIs to lift the Los Angeles Dodgers past the San Diego Padres 9-4 on Thursday night to avoid a three-game sweep.
Pederson had a pair of doubles to pace the Dodgers as they remain two games behind the Washington Nationals for homefield advantage in next week's National League Division Series. Washington beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3 on Thursday.
Los Angeles scored four times in the sixth to seize control as they roughed up starter Christian Friedrich (5-12) and reliever Jose Torres.
Friedrich lost for the nine time in his last 10 decisions. He went 5 2/3 innings and gave up five runs, seven hits and a walk. He struck out three.
Brett Anderson (1-2) got the win after pitching 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.
Justin Turner, who had three hits, drove in the first run in the sixth. Yasiel Puig followed with a double for the Dodgers' third consecutive hit. Torres relieved Friedrich three batters later and his first offering was a wild pitch, scoring Turner. Pederson added a two-run double for a 5-2 edge.
Los Angeles tacked on two more runs in the seventh on Carlos Ruiz's double and single runs in the final two innings.
Luis Sardinas had three hits for the Padres.
Friedrich, with a loss to show for his three starts against the Dodgers this year, was touched in the fifth. Pederson sliced the Padres' advantage to 2-1 with a double to left-center. That brought in Rob Segedin after his one-out triple.
San Diego jumped on reliever Jesse Chavez in the fourth.
Carlos Asuaje had a run-scoring single to chase in hot-hitting rookie Hunter Renfroe after he reached on a blooper. Sardinas drove in Derek Norris, aboard on a single, with another hit for a 2-0 lead.
Urias, who hadn't started since Sept. 13 as the Dodgers monitor his workload, tiptoed around trouble in the early innings.
The Padres had a runner in scoring position in the second when Norris walked and stole second. But Urias stranded him by striking out the side.
Manuel Margot opened the game with a double and was sacrificed to third. But following a walk to Wil Myers, Urias retired Yangervis Solarte and Renfroe.
Urias worked but three innings, surrendering a hit and two walks. After striking out five, his next appearance will be in the playoffs as manager Dave Roberts said Urias, 20, will be on the postseason roster.
NOTES: SS Corey Seager and 2B Chase Utley had the day off but both are expected to play the last three regular-season games in San Francisco. Charlie Culberson replaced Seager while Enrique Hernandez filled in for Utley. ... 3B Justin Turner returned to the starting lineup. ... OF Andrew Toles will be part of the playoff roster, according to manager Dave Roberts. ... Padres TV broadcaster Dick Enberg called his final home game. His trademark "Oh My" was sketched on the outfield grass. ... RHP Tyson Ross continues to have tests down on his sore shoulder.