LOS ANGELES -- Joc Pederson homered and the Los Angeles Dodgers combined 17 hits and a pair of successful challenges for an 8-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.
The Dodgers, who lead the majors in batting average and slugging percentage since the All-Star Break, hit five doubles and used three Pittsburgh errors to win a game that did not see a 1-2-3 inning until the bottom of the eighth.
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Pederson had his 17th homer, a two-run shot and finished with three hits. Corey Seager also three hits and an RBI as Los Angeles overcame a 3-1 deficit by scoring in each of the first six innings.
Dodgers starter Brandon McCarthy was forced from the game in the second inning with right hip stiffness. He walked home runs in runs in both the first and second innings as he struggled with control for his second straight start.
McCarthy walked five and hit one of the 13 batters he faced, throwing 29 of 51 pitches out of the strike zone.
Relievers Josh Fields, Julio Urias (3-2), Joe Blanton, Pedro Baez, Josh Ravin and Kenley Jansen combined to hold Pittsburgh to one run over 7 1/3 innings. Jansen got his 35th save.
San Francisco Giants
Gerrit Cole (7-8) gave up 12 hits and six runs in 4 1/3 innings.
Jung Ho Kang hit his 12th home run and Francisco Cervelli had three hits for the Pirates. Pittsburgh had won 14 of 18 from the Dodgers before this loss.
Francisco Cervelli had three hits and a stolen base for Pittsburgh, who had won 14 of 18 from the Dodgers prior to Saturday.
The Dodgers needed their second successful challenge - and a 2:29 review - to take a 6-3 lead in the fifth.
Urias put down a sacrifice bunt to first baseman John Jaso, and Howie Kendrick broke home from third. Kendrick made a wide dive to avoid Cervelli's sweeping tag, and plate umpire Jim Joyce called him out. The call was overturned on replay.
The Dodgers tied it at 3 in the third thanks to a successful challenge and Kang's two errors on one play at third base.
TRAINER'S ROOM:
Pirates: OF Starling Marte left the game in the eighth inning with upper back discomfort. ... Sidelined since July 2, CChris Stewart (knee) began a rehab assignment Friday night at Double-A Altoona, catching seven innings. ... Cervelli returned to the Bucs' lineup after missing two games with left wrist discomfort.
Dodgers: 3B Justin Turner was a late scratch from the lineup with a right hand contusion, replaced by rookie Dave Segedin. ... RHP Bud Norris (mild mid-back strain) was scheduled to make his first rehab start Saturday for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga.
UP NEXT:
Pirates: RHP Chad Kuhl (2-0,3.91) gets the start on Sunday. The 23-year-old rookie made his MLB debut (5IP/3ER) against the Dodgers on June 26, outdueling Clayton Kershaw in Pittsburgh's 4-3 victory. The right-hander has allowed two runs over his last two starts.
Dodgers: LHP Brett Anderson, who underwent back surgery in March, makes his season debut for the Dodgers on Sunday. In three rehab starts, he went 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA in 12 innings. He was 10-9 in 31 starts with Los Angeles in 2015, and will be the 13th starting pitcher used by the Dodgers this year.