The Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Dodgers were back in action on Independence Day for the second game of their four-game series. Los Angeles took the opener, and Pittsburgh was looking to even things up. It was a back-and-forth game, with both offenses providing some pop. In the end it would be the Pirates coming out on top, as Pittsburgh won 9-7.
Nick Gonzales started things off in the first inning by driving in two runs on a double to left. The Dodgers quickly answered when Will Smith hit a sac fly in the bottom half of the inning for their first run of the night. Los Angeles took the lead with a pair of homers in the second. The first was a two-run shot by James Outman, the second was a solo dinger off the bat of Mookie Betts.
The Pirates would use a three run fourth to regain the lead. Jack Suwinski crushed a 454 ft. solo homer to right center. A sac fly from Austin Hedges brought in Gonzales, which was followed by an RBI single by Bryan Reynolds. That lead would not last long, as James Outman hit a two-run homer to give the Dodgers a one run lead. In the top of the sixth a Henry Davis RBI single tied the game at six.
Jonny DeLuca would give Los Angeles back the lead with a pinch-hit solo home run in the eighth. Some offense from the Young Bucs would put Pittsburgh back out in front in the top of the ninth. Jared Triolo tied the game when he hit an RBI single to center. Josh Palacios put them up by two when he drove in a pair on a double to left center.
Neither starter did much while on the mound. Luis Ortiz allowed six runs on nine hits over 3.1 innings. He would strikeout three and walk one. Dodgers starter Emmet Sheehan gave up five runs on four hits with four walks and four strikeouts during 3.2 innings of work. With outings like those both bullpens were heavily relied upon.
Pittsburgh used five pitchers out of the bullpen to cover 5.2 innings. They would combine to allow one run on two hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. Newly named All-Star David Bednar got the win after working 1.2 innings. Los Angeles also sent five pitchers to the hill in relief. Over 5.1 innings they gave up four runs on eight hits to go with three walks and eight strikeouts. Evan Phillips would be tagged with the loss.
This was an exciting 4th of July road win for the Pirates to snap a three-game losing skid. The emergence of the youth movement must give fans a shot of optimism of what is to come for this team, along with a solid showing by the bullpen. Game three of this series is slated for Wednesday night at 10:10pm with Osvaldo Bido of Pittsburgh set to square off against Dodgers starter Bobby Miller.
Record vs. Dodgers: 3-2
Record vs. N.L. West: 13-7
Record on the Road: 18-24
Overall Record: 40-45
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
