SAN FRANCISCO -- Joc Pederson wasted no time getting the Dodgers on the board Saturday with a leadoff homer against Giants right-hander Dereck Rodriguez at AT&T Park, as the Dodgers need a win to clinch a postseason berth.
Pederson launched a 1-2 curveball onto Levi's Landing in right field for his 25th home run of the year and eighth this season to start a game in just 58 chances. That broke the Dodgers' single-season mark previously held by Davey Lopes in 1979. Pederson has 11 career leadoff homers.
The Dodgers' broadcast revealed in the bottom half of the inning that Pederson homered with one of Chase Utley's bats.