After seeing a seven-game winning streak get snapped on Tuesday night, the Pittsburgh Pirates were looking to get back in the win column against the Los Angeles Dodgers. They would do just that with quality pitching and timely hitting. When it was all said and done, they would come out on top 8-1 to even this three-game series.
The game remained scoreless until the fifth inning. That is when Bryan Reynolds, fresh off signing his new contract extension, would hit an RBI single to left center to score Ji Hwan Bae. Andrew McCutchen drove home the second run of the inning with a single to right center to bring in Ke’Bryan Hayes. One inning later Jason Delay would get in on the fun with a single to shallow center that brought home Rodolfo Castro.
The seventh inning really brought Pittsburgh closer to a win with five runs. The first two came when Castro singled to left center. Bae drove in Tucupita Marcano on a single to shallow left center. Delay continued to swing a hot bat with a two run double to left to close out the scoring. Los Angeles finally got on the board in the eighth with a solo homer from Freddie Freeman.
Pitching was a strength tonight for the Pirates. Roansy Contreras worked six quality innings, allowing just two hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Robert Stephenson pitched a scoreless seventh inning, giving up a hit to go with a strikeout, before Dauri Moreta finished the final two innings. He would allow the one run on one hit with four strikeouts.
Tony Gonsolin made his season debut for Los Angeles and worked 3.1 innings. He struck out one, walked three, and gave up two hits during that time. Phil Bickford got the loss after working one inning and giving up two runs on three hits with a walk and strikeout. Three more Dodgers would come out of the bullpen over the next 3.2 innings and in total, they would allow six runs on seven hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
The biggest story of the night was Drew Maggi getting his first Major League at bat after 13 years in the minors. Though he would strikeout in the at bat, it was great to see the crowd at PNC Park give him a standing ovation and chant his name. This series will wrap up on Thursday at 12:35pm. The pitching matchup will feature Mitch Keller against Julio Urias.
Record vs. Dodgers: 1-1
Record vs. N.L. West: 4-1
Record at Home: 8-4
Overall Record: 17-8
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
