PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) - Pirates finish season series against the Dodgers with a five and one record after they sweep the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
It is the first time the Pirates have swept the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium since September 4-6, 2000.
"We played extremely well," said Derek Shelton. "We came out today and got right back after them and made three or four really good defensive plays. I think that's what really stood out."
Pittsburgh opened the scoring in the first two games of the series and did the same thing in game three as they took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a Josh VanMeter RBI single that scored Ke'Bryan Hayes.
After Chris Taylor tied the game in the 4th inning, Bryan Reynolds got the Pirates the lead back in the top of the 5th on a two-run home run to make it 3-1.
The Dodgers loaded the bases in the bottom of the 5th with no one out. Freddie Freeman grounded into a fielders choice for out number one that plated home a run making it 3-2 Pirates. Chase De Jong replaced Jose Quintana and got out of the jam striking out Trea Turner and getting Justin Turner to pop out to first base.
The Dodgers had 2nd and 3rd with only one out in the bottom of the 7th inning but after a Trea Turner flyout to center field, Bryan Reynolds threw out Gavin Lux at home trying to score the tying run for an inning ending double-play.
"It has to be a bang bang play. It's a catch throw catch and a tag situation. I thought overall it was a good baseball play. A guy with Gavin's speed, you're gonna run there, I think it's a good call. Bryan just made a nice throw," said Shelton.
It remained 3-2 going to the 8th inning but Rodolfo Castro changed that with his first home run of 2022, a two-run blast giving the Pirates a 5-2 lead. Castro batted in four runs on two hits in the game. They would score three more in the 9th inning to put the game away.
"You have to play really well to beat the Dodgers. I'm really proud of our group. We're running out a really young group of players, a bunch of rookies. To come into this environment and to do that, it's pretty special," said Shelton.
