PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It was a lineup that included a near 34-year-old rookie, four others who played in the minors over the last 12 months, Connor Joe at cleanup, a catcher who hit .163 last year. That group touched up Jose Urias for six runs as the Pirates beat LA 6-2 to win the series in two hours and eight minutes.
It's the Bucs first home series win against LA since 2016. Pirates finished the homestand 6-1 with the only loss a blown lead in the eighth.
It wasn't looking good early, Dodgers scored a pair on a two-out single. It set up one of the best pitchers in the National League with an early lead. The Pirates used speed, fortunate bounces and a few hard-hit balls to grab a 3-2 lead they would never relinquish-Bryan Reynolds, Rodolfo Castro and Jack Suwinski with RBIs.
"There is never any panic," said Pirates first-baseman Connor Joe. "We know the style of baseball we are playing we can get going and spark it at any time. I think the no panic, even with the early deficit, says a lot about the group. A lot of faith in each other, confidence and belief in ourselves. Also, the pitching staff, even though Mitch gave up those two runs early, for him to keep them there is so important for us as an offensive unit as well."
"It's huge, just for myself to go and give up two (runs) and for us to bounce right back – that's unbelievable," said Pirates starter Mitch Keller. "That's just a testament to who we are. We're not letting an early deficit get to us. We're just out there every time trying to score, and now it's my job to shut them down. I thought me and (Austin Hedges) did a really nice job of that today."
Keller matched a career-high with 10 strikeouts over six innings with just those two runs. The offense would add to the lead with three runs in the sixth, a two-run homer by Joe immediately followed by a solo-shot from Castro.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are 18-8.
Notes
Up Next
Pirates open a three-game series in Washington with lefty Rich Hill (2-2, 4.85 ERA) against former Pirate righty Chad Kuhl (0-1, 7.36) at 7:05, North Shore Tavern Pregame Show at 6p on 93.7 The Fan.
