Jason Heyward’s pinch-hit homer caps Dodgers’ comeback win against Mariners – Daily Breeze

LOS ANGELES — Jason Heyward showed his worth on Tuesday night.

Heyward blasted a tie-breaking, pinch-hit three-run homer in the eighth inning to lift the Dodgers to a 6-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners in the second game of their three-game series at Dodger Stadium.

Heyward came into the game hitting .203 and the career .256 hitter seemed in danger of losing his roster spot when utility player Chris Taylor comes off the injured list in the coming days, but the 35-year-old veteran likely put any plans on hold.

Seattle reliever Andres Muñoz (2-5) got the first out of the eighth, but then hit Will Smith with an 0-and-2 pitch and walked Max Muncy on four pitches. He struck out Tommy Edman, but then left a 2-and-1 fastball over the plate and Heyward belted it into the seats in right field for the 6-3 lead.

Gavin Lux and Muncy homered in the same inning for the second consecutive game for the Dodgers (75-52), who have won five straight at home and eight in a row against the Mariners.

The victory kept the Dodgers three games ahead of the San Diego Padres and four in front of the Arizona Diamondbacks for first place in the National League West.

Dodgers starter Walker Buehler lasted just four innings in his second start since returning from a two-month absence with a right hip injury. Buehler allowed three runs and seven hits, striking out one and walking three on 82 pitches.

Dodgers relievers Alex Vesia, Ryan Brasier, Anthony Banda, Joe Kelly (1-0) and Daniel Hudson combined to blank the Mariners over the final five innings.

Seattle starter Bryce Miller also went four innings, allowing two runs and five hits. He struck out five and walked two.

Jorge Polanco drove in all three runs for the Mariners (64-63), who have lost seven of eight to strain their own playoff hopes.

Dodgers starting pitchers had not allowed an earned run in the previous two games, but Buehler surrendered two in the first.

He recorded the first two outs on just three pitches before Cal Raleigh rolled an opposite-field double down the third-base line.

Buehler then issued back-to-back walks to Luke Raley and Randy Arozarena to load the bases, bringing Polanco to the plate and he lined a single through the hole on the right side, scoring two runs.

Seattle put its first two runners on base in the third and Polanco came through again, lining an RBI single up the middle with one out to stretch the lead to 3-0.

Lux drove a ball to center in the fourth inning and it cleared the fence, despite a leaping attempt by center fielder Julio Rodríguez. The ball rolled back onto the warning track through a hole in the bottom of the fence, briefly causing Lux to stop at third, but it was quickly ruled a home run, cutting the deficit to 3-1.

Lux has eight home runs in the past 34 games.