Dodgers keep on rolling, down the Pirates, 6-2

In early August, the Dodgers came away from Pittsburgh impressed by the Pirates, though getting swept in a three-game series can do that to a team.

There was no doubt the Pirates earned their respect, with no one around Chavez Ravine shy about calling them one of the best teams they’ve seen all season and referring to them as a possible playoff opponent.

The way things are expected to unfold in the postseason, the only way the Dodgers would meet the Pirates in the playoffs is if it’s in the National League Championship Series, which would require Pittsburgh knocking off nemesis St. Louis.

The Dodgers looked plenty ready for that scenario Friday night, defeating the Pirates, 6-2, before a Dodger Stadium crowd of 49,529 to reduce their magic number for clinching the division to eight.

Of course, when the Dodgers played that three-game series in Pittsburgh on Aug. 7-9, the Pirates did not have to face either Zack Greinke or Clayton Kershaw. They’ll see both this weekend.

First up was Greinke on Friday night, the long-haired right-hander holding the Pirates to a solo homer until appearing to tire in the eighth.

Greinke (18-3) was charged with one more run, raising his baseball-best ERA to 1.65. He gave up four hits, walked two and struck out three. Kershaw is scheduled to start Saturday.

The Dodgers jumped in front early and never trailed. They scored one in the first inning after Justin Ruggiano, who may be earning himself a spot on the playoff roster, led off with a single. After Jeff Locke hit Chase Utley with a pitch, the Dodgers worked a double steal. Catcher Chris Stewart’s throw to third base might have nabbed Ruggiano, but instead it sailed into left for an error and he came around to score.

The Dodgers went up 2-0 with another run in the second inning. Joc Pederson singled and was sacrificed to second by a Greinke bunt. Ruggiano delivered again, drilling a run-scoring single to left.

The Pirates got one back in the fourth inning when Neil Walker unloaded his 14th home run, this one a no-doubter to center field.

The Dodgers, however, came back with two more in the bottom of the inning. A.J. Ellis opened with a single and then Corey Seager delivered his first home run at Dodger Stadium, this one a two-run shot out to right.

The Dodgers made it a 6-1 lead with two runs in the seventh inning. Greinke doubled off the center-field wall and, after a pair of walks loaded the bases with two outs, Adrian Gonzalez doubled through the shift to drive in two.

After Greinke gave up a lead-off single and a walk in the eighth, Luis Avilan took over and struck out Gregory Polanco. Chris Hatcher came on and Starling Marte hit a bouncer up the middle that squeaked through for a run-scoring single.

Despite there being no save opportunity, Kenley Jansen pitched a scoreless ninth.

For the Pirates, who are battling the Cubs for home-field advantage in the wild-card game, it was a fourth consecutive loss.