July 30 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers substituted Joc Pederson out of a game agains the Colorado Rockies due to a lack of effort.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made the decision to pull Pederson out in the eighth inning of the team's 9-1 loss to the Rockies Monday in Denver. The first baseman was replaced by Tyler White. Pederson went 0-for-4 with an RBI out of the leadoff spot.
He was pulled from the game after not running out a ground ball during his final at-bat.
"You've got to run the ball out. I think there's a certain way to play the game. I didn't see the effort there," Roberts told reporters.
Pederson called his performance "unprofessional" and said his emotions got the best of him. Ian Desmond led the Rockies by going 3-for-3 at the plate with a walk and a run scored. Nolan Arenado went 2-for-5 with three strikeouts, two RBIs and two runs scored in the victory. Rockies center fielder David Dahl went 2-for-5 with three RBIs, two strikeouts and two runs scored in the win.
Rockies starter Jon Gray earned his 10th win of the season by allowing three hits and one run in eight innings.
The Dodgers lead Major League Baseball with 69 wins. Pederson is hitting .236 with 23 home runs and 50 RBIs on the season. He is on pace to pass his career-high in home runs (26) and RBIs (68) this season. The Dodgers battle the Rockies at 8:40 p.m. EDT Tuesday in Denver.
