Joc Pederson hit three home runs and batted .333 in 2017, after hitting just .212 with eleven long balls in regular season. The left-handed hitting centre fielder was a little slow getting to the big show that year.
The Los Angeles Dodgers advanced to their first World Series in 29 years when they overcame the Chicago Cubs in five games in the National League Championship Series. Chicago had been gunning for their second straight Fall Classic appearance. Pederson himself was on the postseason roster following an injury to Los Angeles' shortstop, Corey Seager. Joc found himself looking on the outside.
So, the opposition for LA was the Houston Astros, who'd once been a part of the National League. Seager was back, so would Pederson be shuffled down? Los Angeles decided to keep Joc and move left fielder Curtis Granderson off the World Series roster. The move was a bit interesting as Pederson was more a centre fielder (92 appearances) than a left fielder (Just 4). In fact, in the regular season, it was Chris Taylor played 38 games in left. The good news was Taylor could also play centre, having made 49 appearances there, third and second base, and shorstop.
The World Series got underway at Dodger Stadium, and Pederson did not play in the opening tilt. He watched as Clayton Kershaw got things off on the right foot, beating the Astros 3-1 (With centre fielder Chris Taylor scoring two of those runs). Kiké Hernández played left field for LA and went 1-3 at the plate. Would he be back for game two?
But obviously, the second contest was huge. Joc Pederson was a part of it in left field. Justin Verlander fanned him in the bottom of the second. But Joc would show both LA and Houston he'd earned the right to play.
With the Dodgers trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the fifth, Pederson was back at the plate. Verlander had retired the first two men to face him that inning, but his attempt at retiring LA in order would be stopped cold by Pederson. Joc's nickname would one day be "Joctober" and this at-bat would be the start to that.
Justin threw Joc a curveball, which missed for ball one. Another curveball, which like the first was 80 miles per hour and also missed, and the count was 2-0. Pederson then fouled of a fastball, which was on the outside of the plate. Although Los Angeles trailed by just one run, Tony Watson began to throw in the Dodgers' bullpen. It'd be a long night for pitchers on both sides.
Verlander hung a slider, and Pederson jumped on it. He sent the ball into the right, that just cleared the fence, tying the game at one. Joc sprinted around the bases, as the crowd was delirious. Pederson did nothing to hide his excitement, as he was ever-enthused as he headed towards the Dodgers' dugout.
Joc's next time up, in the bottom of the seventh, was not so good. He had a man on third in Cody Bellinger. There was only one out, so if he could get the ball to the outfield again, the Dodgers (Who led 3-1) would be in business to take a 2-0 lead in this Fall Classic. But Pederson fanned against Will Harris. So did Austin Barnes.
A double switch after that inning saw Enrique Hernández now playing left. Eventually, the Astros prevailed in extra innings. So as the teams headed to Houston for games three, four and five, there was still a question of whether Pederson would play in the third contest. But maybe not. Remember, since the next three games were on American League soil, maybe Joc could be the designated hitter?
That, he was. However, the bad news was Pederson would hit in the eighth slot, even though he was DH'ing. Joc had hit sixth in game two. There'd be less RBI chances for sure!
Still, he contributed. In the top of the third, Joc led off, and had to do something. It was 4-0 for Houston. He managed to coax a walk off starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. Lance then suddenly came undone. He issued a bases on balls to the next two batters, making it three in a row. Corey Seager then hit into a double play. That was huge. Pederson scored on the twin-killing, but a potential big inning went down the tubes, with the Dodgers having to be content with just that one run.
So when Pederson came back to the dish in the fifth, Joc needed to contribute again, as the score was still 4-1, 'stros. This time, he knocked a 2-1 offering into centre for a one-out double. Enrique Hernández grounded out, moving Pederson to third. Chris Taylor launched one to the gap in left on the first pitch from McCullers Jr., and it looked like a sure double. But an onrushing George Springer dove for it, snaring it backhanded.
Houston added a run in their fifth, but then LA came back with two in the top of the sixth. Joc Pederson fanned in the seventh against Brad Peacock. The Astros went on to win, 5-3.
So game four was a must for the Dodgers. It was quite an affair for a while. Pederson struggled. He fanned in the top of the third. He couldn't come through with Austin Barnes on first in the sixth. When he batted in the top of the eighth, he fanned again.
It was bad for Los Angeles for a while. They trailed after six. Entering the ninth, it was tied at one. That's where Cody Bellinger put the Dodgers ahead with a double. Los Angeles was not done. Austin Barnes hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded to make it 3-1. By staying out of the double play, this gave Joc Pederson a chance to widen the margin. Runners on the corners, two away. If Houston pitcher Joe Musgrove could get it done, the home team would bat in the ninth still very much in it. He could, conceivably, give up a walk here. But Joe's 0-1 to Joc was high, actually out of the strike zone. No matter. Pederson smoked it to right, and it found the stands for a huge, three-run home run. The game was, essentially over. Twitter user James H. Williams at Coachella posted,
"Dodgers' Joc Pederson hits a 3-run home run.
Pederson reaches bases and yells 'YOU LIKE THAT!'
#ThisTeam"
The Astros scored a meaningless run in the ninth, but the 2017 Fall Classic was tied 2-2 after this contest. There would be a game six in Los Angeles.
But Houston bounced back in the fifth contest, which they had to win. The game was a slugfest, even though Clayton Kershaw started it for LA. It would later be revealed that the Astros were illegally stealing signs (Through the use of live feeds in the Astros' tunnel towards the dugout, and then banging on a trash can) and this game would certainly be a good example of how it worked.
Pederson did not start this game, and for a while, it appeared that he would not be noted. The first inning of the fifth contest was not too unlike the ninth inning of the previous game. Los Angeles scored three times.
Well, the lead didn't hold. And by the the time Joc Pederson made an appearance, it was tied 7-7. It was a slugfest. In the top of the sixth inning, Austin Barnes led off against reliever Collin McHugh. He took a called strike three.
Enter Joc Pederson
Pederson, hitting .333 (3-9) grabbed a bat to hit for second basemen Charlie Culberson. McHugh hard retired the last three men to face him. Houston put a shift on, to try and stop the red-hot hitter. Jose Altuve was basically playing short right, while Josh Reddick (The right fielder) was playing at the power alley. Left fielder Marwin Gonzalez was in the other power alley. Centre fielder George Springer was playing straight away. It was third basemen Alex Bregman essentially playing at the shortstop position. Meanwhile, Carlos Correa, the Astros' shortstop, was playing on the right side of second. There was little room to go for should Joc pull the ball.
The first pitch was a 91 mile per hour fastball, which Joc took for a strike. A slow curve followed. It got the ball it was so low. Another curve, but this time McHugh fooled Pederson, who swung and missed. Joc was in a 1-2 hole. The fourth pitch to Joc was again low. 2-2. Collin decided to stop throwing the 12-6 to Joc. The rest of the plate appearance would be decided with four-seamers. The 2-2 was high and away. Then, the payoff pitch. Well, before that, Pederson needed some time to think. The timeout was requested just as the pitcher was about to go into the windup. In any event, home plate umpire Bill Miller granted it. No pitch ended up being thrown. And the crowd was unhappy. So, finally, the payoff pitch missed to the outside. What a way to hang in there!
All seven men who had drawn bases on balls had scored on this night, and now Joc was aboard as the go-ahead run. However, Collin McHugh settled down, getting the next two batters out via a fly and a K.
Pederson stayed in the game, playing left field. In the eighth, Joc hit a one-out double off Brad Peacock. Chris Taylor was hit by a pitch. Will Harris hopped in from the Houston bullpen. But Corey Seager hit his very first pitch to left for a double of his own, scoring Pederson. The run was huge, as Los Angeles was now within two runs of Houston. The Astros, though, pried loose a run off Tony Cingra in the bottom of the inning, as Brian McCann hit a solo home run.
The score was 12-9 for the Astros until the Dodgers tied it in the top of the ninth. Yasiel Puig hit a one out, two-run home run. Barnes doubled. Pederson was back up, and with a chance to tie it. He grounded out, but that moved Barnes to third. Taylor singled home Barnes. It was 12-12, but LA would have to stop Houston from scoring in the Astros' half of the inning. Joc Pederson had moved to centre an inning earlier as Andre Ethier went to play left field.
How would Joc like being the "centre" of attention in the outfield? Jose Altuve sent one his way to start the Houston half of the frame. Pederson backed up, and caught the ball a few feet shy of the warning track. With two away, Yuli Gurriel smacked a towering double well over Ethier's head in left, and the winning run was a hit away. Fortunately, the next batter Josh Reddick, flied out to left.
The Astros walked it off in the tenth, as Alex Bregman drove in the winning run. The Dodgers had their backs to the wall again. Pederson would play every inning of every game from here on in. And why shouldn't he? His batting average was up to an amazing .364. The Dodgers were heading back home for the conclusion of the 2017 Fall Classic, one way or another.
Things were a little spooky for the Los Angeles gang. It was Halloween Night, and the Dodgers would need to pull of some trick or be prepared to (re)treat for the year. Pederson was back in the sixth slot. It was an odd game for him. And for both teams. This game was a pitcher's duel.
After 5 1/2 innings, things were looking grim for the home team. LA trailed 1-0, and running out of time. But they tallied twice in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead. Could the Dodgers make it hold? Well, our boy came back up the next inning. Joe Musgrove had gotten the first batter, Yasiel Puig to pop out. He quickly got ahead of Pederson, 1-2. Pederson hit the next pitch the other way to left. Into the stands! "I didn't think I got [enough of] it," he said after the game. It was Joc's third home run of the World Series. Like he had in game two, Pederson flew around the bases in his excitement. The Dodger dugout was alive and kicking! "I'd say he's fired up!" Joe Buck said of Pederson. So was Los Angeles. Kenley Jansen, closer, took over from there. He faced just six batters, total, over the next two innings, needing just nineteen pitches to get 'em all out. The 2017 Fall Classic would go down to a seventh and deciding game.
But Houston would decide it very early. The Astros scored twice in the top of the first. The Dodgers tried to rally. Chris Taylor started it all off with a double. A strikeout followed. Then a hit by pitch. Another strikeout. Another hit by pitch. The bases were loaded with two outs. Joc Pederson was next.
Obviously, this was a big moment. Lance McCullers Jr. came in with a knuckle curve for strike one. Another knuckle curve that Pederson swung on and missed. Behind 0-2, Joc swung at the third offering, which was another knuckle curve. He grounded out to second basemen Jose Altuve. The Astros would come at the Dodgers again when they went back to the lumber duty.
Yu Darvish gave up a walk and double, then got two outs. But George Springer hit a three-run home run. It was 5-0 for the 'stros and the end was near for Joe and company.
Corey Seager started the last of the third with a single. Justin Turner was hit by a pitch. Another potential big inning. The Dodgers needed runs. Cody Bellinger fanned. Brad Peacock hopped in from the Houston bullpen. Yasiel Puig gave it a ride to centre. But it was playable for George Springer. Seager tagged and made it to third. Joc Pederson was back up. Two on. Two out.
Pederson fouled off the first pitch, a fastball. Then he took a ball. He foul tipped the third offering, a 94-mile and hour heater. Houston catcher Brian McCann went to talk to Peacock. Another four-seamer was taken for a ball, evening the count at 2-2. A sweeper was swung on and missed. McCann, who didn't come up with the ball clearnly. threw to first, to complete the strikeout. After three innings, LA and Houston each had only three hits, but it was the Astros with the big lead.
The Dodgers seemed a little demoralized, and went down in order the next inning. In the fifth, they got two more men on, but again failed to cash them in. Clayton Kershaw pitched innings three to six for the Dodgers, and held the Astros scoreless. But the LA bats weren't getting the hits when they needed to.
The bottom of the sixth started with Joc Pederson back at the plate. The first pitch from new pitcher Charlie Morton was a tough, inside four-seam fastball. Pederson not only got his bat on it, but punched it into centre for a leadoff single. This boasted his batting average to .353 (6-17). Logan Forsythe coaxed a bases on balls from Morton. Could LA finally cash a man or two in? Austin Barnes popped out to Carlos Correa at short. Andre Ethier batted for Kershaw. Ethier came through with a single that scored Pederson. But that was it. Chris Taylor fanned and Corey Seager grounded out on the first pitch.
The Dodger bullpen picked up where Kershaw had left off. But the Los Angeles' bats were silenced the rest of the way, with Pederson fanning in his final plate appearance of 2017 in the eighth. Morton retired the last eleven Dodgers to face him.
It was a tough loss for Joc and the Dodgers. The sign-stealing scandal would be exposed in the coming years, but Houston was, and still is, the 2017 World Series winners. Pederson and Los Angeles, though, had gotten experience from this lengthy postseason. They'd be back the next year, and again in 2020.
References
Brandt, David. “What Is a Sweeper? A Look at the Pitch Taking over MLB.” AP NEWS, Associated Press, 25 Apr. 2023, https://apnews.com/article/sweeper-pitch-baseball-4a18c6f077c7cc3c062dc9e13519174f. Accessed 02 May 2023.
"Joc Pederson and Chris Taylor Postgame Interview | Dodgers vs Astros Game 6 World Series", YouTube, uploaded by Dodger Highlights (Courtesy of Fox, Major League Baseball), 1 Nov. 2017, https://youtu.be/1w7slMj-cpk?t=185 , Accessed 02 May 2017. (Q & A appears @ 3:05 of video)
Morissey, Scott C. 114 World Series in 1 Book. Updated ed., Pandamonium Publishing House, 2020.
“The Official Site of Major League Baseball.” MLB.com, MLB Advanced Media, https://www.mlb.com/. 02 May 2023.
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. 02 May 2023.
2017 World Series, Fox Broadcasting, 2017, http://www.youtube.com/. Accessed 2 May 2023.
Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/. 02 May 2023.
Williams, James H. “Watch: Joc Pederson Hits a 3-Run Home Run as the Dodgers Win Game 4 of the World Series.” Press Telegram, MediaNews Group, 29 Oct. 2017, https://www.presstelegram.com/2017/10/28/watch-joc-pederson-hit-a-3-run-home-run-to-extend-the-dodgers-lead-in-game-4-of-the-world-series/. Accessed 02 May 2023.
YouTube, Google, https://www.youtube.com/. 02 May 2023.
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