The Los Angeles Dodgers had their work cut out for them trying to go for a series win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Thursday afternoon as scheduled starter Dennis Santana was scratched just before the game with right lat soreness.
They were able to battle through the adversity though and came away with an 8-7 victory to clinch a series victory over the Pirates and complete a 6-1 road trip.
Joc Pederson got the Dodgers on the scoreboard early as he took Pirates starter Jameson Taillon deep to leadoff the game. He went deep later in the game too, giving him five on the road trip.
Daniel Hudson got the start on the mound for the Dodgers in Santana’s place and tossed one scoreless inning. Scott Alexander then followed with a shutout inning of his own in the second. Both relievers were pitching for the third consecutive day.
The Pirates tied the game at one in the bottom of the third against Pedro Baez on two hits and a sacrifice fly, although that tie score did not last long.
The Dodgers quickly answered in the fourth on a perfect bunt single to the right side by Breyvic Valera to score Cody Bellinger, who doubled earlier in the inning.
That started a run of three straight innings for the Dodgers in which they added a run to their lead, with Matt Kemp driving in a run on a fielder’s choice in the fifth and then Yasiel Puig coming up with a pinch-hit RBI-double in the sixth.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts’ hand was forced a bit in the sixth when he had to use three relievers to get through the inning. Josh Fields gave up a walk and a double to begin the inning. LEft-hander Edward Paredes then came in and got a strikeout before Erik Goeddel finished the inning. The Pirates wound up scoring two runs to cut their deficit to 4-3.
Bellinger was able to add a couple big insurance runs for the Dodgers in the top of the seventh with a two-run home run to left field, scoring Kemp. Bellinger homered in all three games of the series with one going to each field.
Pederson’s second home run of the day in the eighth inning extended the lead to 8-3 and provided much-needed insurance as Brock Stewart gave up a three-run home run to Elias Diaz in the eighth to get the Pirates right back in the game at 8-6.
Kenley Jansen then came on for a five-out save and was able to complete it despite giving up a solo home run to Francisco Cervelli in the ninth to help the Dodgers earn the victory. He was the last reliever left in the Dodgers bullpen.
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