From a statistical standpoint, Matt Beaty had the game-winning hit in Sunday’s 5-0 shutout win over the San Francisco Giants in front of a Dodger Stadium crowd of 52,310. Although no one knew it at the time, because the Giants failed to put a run on the board, Beaty’s two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning was actually all that the Dodgers would need to reduce their Magic Number to clinch their seventh consecutive National League West title to two. However, as every baseball fan on the planet knows, a 2-0 lead can vanish with one swing of the bat.

Not so with a 5-0 lead, or what former Dodgers outfielder and longtime Giants manager Dusty Baker used to call “Keep it out of slam range.”

With two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning and Dodgers catcher Russell Martin on second base, and on a play which, for the most part, went unnoticed by many, Dodgers right fielder Joc Pederson hit a sharp grounder to Giants second baseman Mauricio Dubon (who was in a shift in short right field) which he momentarily bobbled. But because Pederson was absolutely busting it down the line – something for which the 27-year-old Palo Alto, CA native was benched earlier this season By Dodgers manager Dave Roberts for not doing – Pederson beat Dubon’s throw to Giants first baseman Brandon Belt by a split second, thereby prolonging the inning and allowing Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager to come to the plate on what was ruled an error on Dubon.

Pederson’s hustle did not go unnoticed by former Dodger legend and current AM 570 LA Sports Radio color analysist Rick Monday.

“The hustle of Pederson extended the inning,” Monday said immediately after Joc was called safe by first base umpire Chris Guccione.

“There’s been a time or two when Dave Roberts has called out Joc Pederson for lack of hustle,” SportsNet LA’s Joe Davis said during the television broadcast of the game. “Opposite end of the spectrum right there, absolutely busting it, and he keeps the inning alive for Corey Seager.”

Sure enough, on the second pitch that Seager saw from Giants right-hander Dereck Rodríguez, he absolutely crushed it over the 395-foot sign in straightaway center field for a huge three-run home run, which never would have happened but for Pederson’s hustle.

Good on you, Joc Pederson. Good on you.

Play Ball!

    *    *    *    *    *