Pederson sets Dodgers leadoff homer record
Slugger's eighth to open a game this season passes Lopes' mark in 1979
September 29th, 2018
SAN FRANCISCO -- Joc Pederson wasted no time getting the Dodgers on the board in Saturday's 10-6 win with a leadoff homer against Giants right-hander Dereck Rodriguez at AT&T Park, as the Dodgers clinched 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 went deep with one of Chase Utley's bats.
Yasiel Puig added his 23rd homer of the season with a leadoff shot to left in the second inning.