PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – He said when he first got to the majors that his numbers would be better in MLB than AAA because these games count. Ty Callihan hit a pair of home runs, including a three-run homer in the eighth as the Pirates come back to beat the Dodgers 9-8 Wednesday night at PNC Park.
The first home run off Shohei Ohtani (427-feet) and the next off a struggling Kyle Hurt who was knocked around PNC Park by the bottom of the Pirates order.
The last four in the Pirates lineup (Endy Rodriguez/Rafael Flores, Ty Callihan, Jake Mangum, Jared Triolo) combined for 6 runs, 2 homers, 5 hits, 4 RBI.
Spencer Horwitz would follow with a huge bat flip homer as the Pirates scored eight runs in the seventh and eighth inning.
Ohtani would hit a two-run home run into the Dodgers bullpen in the ninth of Gregory Soto to pull LA to within a run.
The win snaps a four-game losing streak as the Dodgers had a 97.3% chance to win the game entering the seventh inning.
Pirates 7th
Lowe laced a 3-0, two-out double to right scored Callihan and Jake Mangum and chased Ohtani (6.2 innings, 6 hits, 4 runs, 3 earned runs, e walks, 6 strikeouts, 102 pitches-61 strikes). An error off a Reynolds ground ball scored Lowe to cut the lead to 6-4.
Jones 3rd start
Starting the game getting Ohtani swinging on a 3-2 slider, Jared Jones went four innings in his third start of the season giving up a couple of two-out RBIs in the fourth. In all, Jones gave up three hits, all in the fourth inning, a walk and four strikeouts. The 25-year-old threw 75 pitches, 45 strikes.
Carmen granny
Carmen Mlodzinski relieved Jones and after a 1-2-3 first inning, the right-hander walked a pair in the sixth sandwiched around a single. With two outs, Ryan Ward hit his third homer of the year, a grand slam to give the Dodgers a 6-1 lead. Mlodzinski went 3.2 innings, 3 hits, 4 runs, 4 earned runs, 3 walks, 76 pitches-44 strikes.
Huge catch
Bottom of the third, after a two-out walk, Ohtani hits an opposite field shot 375 feet, clearing the left field wall. But it didn’t clear Bryan Reynolds, the Pirates left fielder jumped over the wall to keep it 0-0 and rob a fan of a valuable souvenir.
3B Nick Gonzales made a tough-hop play in the fourth inning and robbed Ohtani of a bloop hit running out to short left for an over-the-shoulder catch. 2B Brandon Lowe also had a diving catch of a line-drive to open the fifth inning.
Lowe laced a 3-0, two-out double to right scored Callihan and Jake Mangum and chased Ohtani (6.2 innings, 6 hits, 4 runs, 3 earned runs, e walks, 6 strikeouts, 102 pitches-61 strikes). An error off a Reynolds ground ball scored Lowe to cut the lead to 6-4.
Another injury
Announcing before the game that Oneil Cruz went on injured reserve with a broken hand, Pirates catcher Endy Rodriguez left the game in the eighth inning with left hip discomfort. He was being evaluated and was replaced by Rafael Flores as Henry Davis is out on paternity leave.
ABS failure
Worst in the majors (roughly 42% correct) in trying to overturn ball and strike calls, Bucs catcher Endy Rodriguez lost two challenges in the fourth inning meaning the Pirates were out of challenges the rest of the game.
"We continue to beat it up,” said Pirates manager Don Kelly pregame. “I feel like we've had a few this year that maybe have been egregious where it was whole ball in the zone or so far off you sit there and wonder maybe if we should have challenged in that moment and there's been a lot that barely clip the strike zone, and an eighth of an inch seam is catching the black and those are the ones that are so close that we want our guys to feel comfortable in the right situations. Now nobody on, early in the game, early in the count, we do not want to be challenging those ones, we don't want to be challenging those ones. Now if we have runners on base and it's a situation where it could flip the at bat, we do want them to, if they're convicted, go."
Minor League Notes
- 2022 1st round pick, INF Termarr Johnson hit his 3rd HR in AAA
- AAA RHP Jose Urquidy 5IP/2 hits/run/walk/5 strikeouts. In his last 3 starts, 18 innings, 2 runs, 8 hits, 2 walks, 12 strikeouts
- AAA RHP Isaac Mattson 2 innings, hit, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, the reliever who started the season with the Pirates now has a 1.86 ERA in the minors
- High A Jhonny Severino hit his 12th HR (sixth South Atlantic League) and now 46 RBI (tied 1st South Atlantic League)
Up Next
Final game of the series, Mitch Keller (5-3, 4.81 ERA) goes for his first win at home since May 1, LHP Justin Wrobleski (7-2, 2.62 ERA) for LA. Dan Zangrilli starts the North Shore Tavern Leadoff Show at 5:45 with first pitch at 6:40 on 93.7 The Fan.
Highlights from Pirates game with Dodgers, plus pair of righties excel at AAA
Highlights from Pirates game with Dodgers, plus pair of righties excel at AAA
