Dodgers continue their long-ball show in 5-4 win over Angels

Home runs, nice to have. Generally very helpful when you’re attempting to outscore the other team.

The Dodgers lost their two most powerful bats in the off-season -- Matt Kemp traded to the Padres, Hanley Ramirez signing with the Red Sox -- so they aren’t expected to be blasting rockets out of ballparks this year.

Which is not to say they won’t get their share, just that they won’t be leading baseball with their home-run total. Like they are this spring.

That’s right, a team supposedly built around gritty at-bats and line drives leads every team this spring with 42 home runs, five more than the second-place Cubs. They’re clobbering everything.

The Dodgers came up with two more homers Saturday afternoon in their 5-4 victory over the Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Joc Pederson hit a two-run homer in the second inning, and Alex Guerrero crushed a solo shot in the third, both coming off Angels starter Matt Shoemaker. It was the fifth of the spring for Pederson, tying him with Yasiel Puig for the team lead, and third for Guerrero, who should have had a second home run Saturday but Mike Trout robbed him with a leaping catch above the center-field wall in the first inning.

Seventeen of their homers have been hit by young players not expected to make the 25-man roster, but 42 is still an impressive total. It’s a big part of the reason the Dodgers are 14-7-6 this spring, baseball’s best winning percentage.

The Dodgers finished with nine hits Saturday, including doubles from Justin Turner, Chris Heisey and Ralph Henriquez.

On the pitching side, the Dodgers started David Huff, who remains a candidate for the bullpen and potential rotation replacement for Hyun-Jin Ryu.

Huff, a non-roster invitee who had been pitching very well, did not help his cause Saturday. Despite surrendering only one run, he gave up six hits and a walk in just 3 1/3 innings.

Adam Liberatore continued to keep his ERA spotless, pitching a scoreless sixth inning. The left-hander has not given up a run this spring in eight innings.