Kendrick Delivers Winning Hit, Dodgers Beat Blue Jays 4-2
TORONTO (AP) — Howie Kendrick hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 on Sunday.
Joc Pederson connected for his sixth homer as Los Angeles took two of three from Toronto. It's the first series win for the Dodgers since they won two of three at Colorado from April 22 to 24.
Chris Hatcher (3-3) got the win despite yielding a run in the seventh that gave Toronto the lead. Pedro Baez got two outs in the eighth and Kenley Jansen finished for his major league-leading 11th save.
With Los Angeles trailing 2-1 in the eighth, Chase Utley sparked the winning rally with a leadoff walk against Drew Storen (0-2). Corey Seager followed with a ground-rule double to right.
Roberto Osuna came on and struck out Justin Turner, and then intentionally walked Adrian Gonzalez to load the bases. Yasmani Grandal followed with a sacrifice fly and Kendrick singled in Seager.
Seager made it 4-2 with an RBI single off Chad Girodo in the ninth.
Toronto has lost two straight after winning the previous four.
Dodgers right-hander Ross Stripling pitched six innings of one-run ball. The rookie struck out six and walked none after yielding a season-high five runs in his previous outing, April 30 against San Diego.
Stripling retired his first six batters before Kevin Pillar's leadoff double in the third. Pillar later scored on a fielder's choice grounder by Ryan Goins.
Pederson tied it with a two-out drive off Marco Estrada in the seventh.
Estrada, who held the Dodgers hitless through the first five innings, remained winless in five outings. He allowed one run and three hits in seven innings.
Estrada has received six runs of support during his five-game winless stretch.
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