PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) - Dodgers come back to beat the Pirates 4-3 Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles.
The Bucs jumped on Tarik Skubal in the top of the first inning. Esmerlyn Valdez and Bryan Reynolds hit back-to-back singles and both scored on a two-run triple hit by Oneil Cruz. Cruz scored on a fielders choice and the Pirates were ahead 3-0 in the top of the first.
The first time around the batting order, Jared Jones struck out five batters and didn't allow any hits. It's the second time around the order where he's struggled this year. Opponents came into the game batting .440 against Jones the second time around the order. Saturday night was no different.
In the bottom of the 4th Jones gave up his first hit of the game, Max Muncy doubled to right field to begin the inning. Tommy Edman drew a walk and the Dodgers had two on with nobody out. Kyle Tucker grounded into a possible double play but he beat the throw at first to make it first and third with one out. Then it was Teoscar Hernandez and Alek Thomas with back-to-back RBI singles to put the Dodgers within one run.
Jones went just 4 innings and allowed 2 runs on 3 hits. He struck out 5 but he also walked 5.
"Three no hit innings, it looked like command started to get a little spotty especially there in that last inning. He did a nice job working through bases loaded after the Ohtani walk and getting Freeman. Just looked like it sped up on him and command in that last inning," said Don Kelly.
The Dodgers took the lead in the bottom of the 5th inning. Mookie Betts led off the inning getting hit by a pitch from Yohan Ramirez. Muncy hit another double to give LA second and third with nobdoy out. The slumping Kyle Tucker cashed in with a two run single to give LA a 4-3 lead.
After giving up 3 in the first inning, Skubal settled in and allowed just 2 hits the rest of his start. He was in full control after the second inning and retired the side 1-2-3 in 4 of the last 5 innings he pitched in, including striking out the side in the top of the 6th. Skubal finished the day pitching 7 innings, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits, he sruck out 11 and walked 1. He threw 106 pitches.
"We had a really good first inning and started out in teh second inning pretty good there, then he got on a roll that kept us off balance. Looked like the fastball up had life and he throws a ton of strikes," said Kelly. "I don't think our approach changed I think he adjusted and we did not do a good job of adjusting back."
The Pirates had the tying runner on third with one out in the top of the 8th inning but Reynolds and Cruz both struck out to strand the runner at third. They went down in order in the 9th to end the game.
It was the second straight game the Pirates had a starter go just 4 innings pitched.
"As far as the rotation goes, I think that something we continue to talk about is we have to get in the zone and throw more strikes, get ahead. That's something we saw Skubal did, he's really efficient to get through seven innings at 100+ pitches. We have to dominate the strikezone. Free passes especially against a team like the Dodgers will kill you," said Kelly.
The Pirates are now 7 games back for the final Wild Card spot in the National League. They finish the series with the Dodgers Sunday at 4:10. It will be Blake Snell for LA vs Lake Bachar. Don Kelly confirmed Bachar will start and Mlodzinski will be available.
The Pirates now sit 7 games back of the final Wild Card spot
The Pirates now sit 7 games back of the final Wild Card spot
