Pederson leads Dodgers to 9-4 victory over Padres

SAN DIEGO -- Rookie left-hander Julio Urias got a final tuneup for what he hopes will be a spot on the Los Angeles Dodgers' postseason roster.

The 20-year-old pitched three scoreless innings and Joc Pederson doubled twice and drove in three runs, and the NL West champion Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres 9-4 on Thursday night to avoid a three-game sweep.

The Dodgers remained two games behind the Washington Nationals with three to play in the race for home-field advantage in their division series matchup.

The Dodgers monitored Urias' innings with a spot on the postseason roster in mind.

"His stuff was good," manager Dave Roberts said. "It is one of those things he wasn't as sharp as we have seen but Julio still finds a way to miss bats. In that three-inning stint, which we wanted to keep it abbreviated, he missed bats.

"If you have one word to sum up Julio it is poise,' regardless of the situation and environment," Roberts said. "Having his A stuff or not, he still finds a way to get major league hitters out."

Making his first start since Sept. 13, Urias allowed one hit while striking out five and walking two. Brett Anderson (1-2) pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings for the victory.

"I'm very happy for the opportunity," Urias said through a translator. "I feel good and comfortable. The roster comes out at the end of the season and I will respect whatever decision they make.

"It's huge," he added. "It's my first year and I always knew it was going to be a playoff team because it is a team that has that capacity. Now that we are here and they are considering me for the playoff roster, that is great. I see it a lot closer. I see it as a reality to be part of that roster."

Padres left-hander Christian Friedrich (5-12) allowed five runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings, struck out three and walked one.

San Diego took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning on consecutive RBI singles by Carlos Asuaje and Luis Sardinas.

Rob Segedin tripled to right for the Dodgers with one out in the fifth and scored on Pederson's double to center.

The Dodgers took the lead in the sixth with four runs -- all charged to Friedrich -- on four hits, a walk and a wild pitch. Friedrich allowed Justin Turner's RBI single and loaded the bases on a walk to Segedin before making way for Jose Torres. Torres' first pitch was wild, allowing Turner to score, and Pederson then hit a two-run double to center.

The Padres went 6-4 on their final homestand, including splitting a four-game series with the San Francisco Giants and taking two of three from the Dodgers.

Most of the credit goes to several rookies called up from Triple-A El Paso, which won the Pacific Coast League title.

"I think we showed some young guys here that infused some life and looked really good," manager Andy Green said. "Manny Margot, Hunter Renfroe were outstanding, Carlos Asuaje had some good games and Austin Hedges was great behind the plate. '

Although Renfroe had a quiet night, going 1 for 5, he had four home runs and 12 RBI in his first eight games.

Although Thursday's game got out of hand, "Nobody seemed to care what the score was when it's 9-2 there in the ninth inning and we're still swinging the bats," Green said. "This team's fought all year long. I don't think anybody who's watched us would think anything otherwise. I think that's to be commended. We have a ways to go, but we've showed that same resolve this homestand that we've kind of shown all year."

OH MY!

Broadcaster Dick Enberg was honored before his final home game as TV voice of the Padres. Enberg was presented with a microphone mounted on a base and gave a brief speech that he ended with his signature "Oh my!" At a reception earlier in the day, Enberg was given a surfboard featuring his picture and his "Oh my!" saying. The Padres unveiled a plaque naming one of the broadcast booths after Enberg, who is in his seventh season with the team. At 81, he's retiring from his five decades as one of the most recognizable sports broadcasters in history. Tennis great Rod Laver, who lives in Carlsbad in northern San Diego County, attended the ceremony. Enberg will call the Padres' season-ending, three-game series at Arizona.

UP NEXT

Dodgers: LHP Rich Hill (12-5, 2.05) is scheduled to start the season-sending series at San Francisco beginning Friday night. The Giants will counter with LHP Madison Bumgarner (14-9,2.71).

Padres: RHP Edwin Jackson (5-6, 5.77) is scheduled to start the opener of the final series at Arizona, which is scheduled to counter with RHP Braden Shipley (4-5, 5.26).