After undergoing back surgery during Spring Training, Los Angeles Dodgers starter Brett Anderson made his 2016 debut Sunday afternoon in the rubber match against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Dodger Stadium.
The Pirates didn’t take long to greet Anderson, as Josh Harrison hit the first pitch of he saw back up the middle for a single. That was followed by a two-run home run off the bat of Jordy Mercer.
After getting two quick outs Anderson issued a walk to Jung-Ho Kang and gave up a single to Francisco Cervelli. Sean Rodriguez then went opposite field for a three-run home run, extending Pittsburgh’s lead to 5-0.
Rookie Chad Kuhl started on the mound for the Pirates, and while the Dodgers weren’t able to get all five back in the bottom of the first, they did get one as Josh Reddick doubled and then scored on a single by Adrian Gonzalez.
The double was Reddick’s first extra-base hit since being traded to the Dodgers. Brock Stewart took over for Anderson in the top of the second, as Anderson was removed with what was later called a mild left wrist sprain.
Stewart walked a pair with two outs, but then struck out Kang to end the inning without allowing a run. The Dodgers couldn’t muster any offense in the second and third.
Their only baserunners were Reddick and Corey Seager who hit back-to-back singles with two outs in the third. But Gonzalez swung at the first pitch and grounded out to end the inning. Harrison led off the fourth with a base hit, and moved into scoring position on a force out.
He then scored on Andrew McCutchen’s single to to center field. Stewart walked David Freese before working his way out of the inning. Joc Pederson continued his hot stretch at the plate, lining a solo home run to right field in the bottom of the fourth.
Howie Kendrick then doubled on a blooper down the right field line that popped out of Harrison’s glove on his diving attempt. However, Kendrick was stranded by Rob Segedin and pinch-hitter Chris Taylor.
J.P. Howell took over in the fifth and promptly gave up a leadoff single. Sean Rodriguez advanced to second base on a ball that got away from Yasmani Grandal, but the Dodgers asked for a review and it was overturned.
That proved key as Adam Frazier followed with a single to center. With two outs and Frazier on third base, Harrison hit an RBI sun double to right field. It was the second time in as many games that Reddick lost a ball in the afternoon sky at Dodger Stadium.
Mercer reached on a Seager error that put runners on the corners with two outs and marked the end of the day for Howell. Jesse Chavez came on and retired McCutchen to end the inning. Kuhl retired the Dodgers in order in the fifth and sixth innings, keeping the Pirates’ lead at 7-2.
Antonio Bastardo walked Kendrick to start the bottom of the seventh then gave up a base hit to Segedin. After Kiké Hernandez lined out to left, Kendrick coaxed Bastardo into a balk. Bastaro retired Chase Utley, and Felipe Rivero struck out Reddick to end the threat.
Kang clubbed a solo home run halfway up the pavilion in center field off Josh Fields in the ninth, extending the Pirates’ lead to 8-3. The run was the first Fields allowed since being traded to the Dodgers prior to the non-waiver deadline.
Pittsburgh tacked on three more runs before the inning came to an end. Juan Nicasio came on in the ninth and finished out the Pirates’ 11-3 victory. With the win Pittsburgh finished 5-2 against Los Angeles this season.
