The Dodgers opened their postseason with a strong win over the Nationals, and Joc Pederson delivered one of the game’s key moments. Locked in from the start of his at-bat, Pederson worked a deep count against Washington reliever Hunter Strickland. After falling behind 0-2, Pederson fouled off several pitches and looked increasingly confident in the box. Strickland tried changing speeds but couldn’t finish him off. Pederson adjusted pitch by pitch, timing the off-speed stuff and showing he was dialed in.
Eventually, Strickland made a mistake, coming back with a high fastball. Pederson didn’t miss. He crushed it down the line, and it clanged off the right-field foul pole for a home run. The dugout erupted. Gavin Lux looked thrilled. Pederson celebrated down the line and eventually put on the team’s home run crown. The at-bat wasn’t just about the outcome, but how Pederson battled and wore down the pitcher. That moment helped set the tone for a team looking to make a deep playoff run.