Mookie Betts impresses with his bat and glove in Dodgers’ win over Pirates
Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts made an impressive double play against the Pirates on Thursday.
PITTSBURGH — Mookie Betts’ performance Thursday at PNC Park, an all-around rendition that served as a reminder of his elite skill-set during a relatively disappointing season, began in the first inning, when it was still sunny and muggy, inside the batter’s box.
He swatted the third pitch of the game, a 2-0 fastball from Mitch Keller, over the wall in left-center field to give the Dodgers a prompt lead in a rain-shortened, series-sweeping 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. It was Betts’ sixth home run this season and first in 75 plate appearances. He hadn’t homered since May 18. On Sunday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts predicted Betts would homer “in the next few days.”
“I’ve been working a lot, as always,” said Betts, who finished two for four with a walk. “I feel like I’ve been pretty close here lately and I’ve been hitting the ball harder more consistently. I don’t know about a home run, but I do feel like I’m swinging the bat a little bit better.”
Betts then took his act to right field. It was bumpy initially. He fumbled a hit from Erik González in the second inning that allowed Phillip Evans to score from first base, just beating his throw, to tie the score. Betts quickly rebounded.
Game called in the eighth because of rain: Dodgers defeat Pirates 6-3
Highlights from the Dodgers’ 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.
The Dodgers picked up their 13th consecutive win over the Pittsburgh Pirates without having to play nine innings.
The game was called off with one out in the top of the eighth inning because of heavy rain at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, giving the Dodgers a 6-3 win a series sweep of the Pirates. The Dodgers have beaten the Pirates 13 consecutive times, tying a franchise record.
The Dodgers improved to 37-25 and the Pirates fell to 23-38. Julio Urías improved to 9-2 and Phil Bickford picked up his first save.
Add some Fernandomania to your rain delay entertainment
The Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates are in a rain delay at PNC Park, with the Blue Crew leading 5-3 with one out in the top of the eighth inning.
Now is the perfect time to catch up on the latest episode of Fernandomania @ 40, a documentary series by The Times that examines Fernando Valenzuela’s impact on the Dodgers, Major League Baseball and the Latino community in Los Angeles 40 years ago.
Be sure to check out the complete Fernandomania series here.
Justin Turner drives in another run before play is suspended in the eighth
Justin Turner drove in Mookie Betts on a hit to center field off Pirates reliever Kyle Crick to give the Dodgers a 6-3 lead before the umpires suspended play because of rain with one out in the eighth inning.
Betts reached base on a leadoff single and advanced to second when Crick walked Max Muncy.
Two at-bats after Turner’s hit in the driving rain scored Betts, the umpires suspended play with pinch hitter Albert Pujols at the plate.
Dodgers take 5-3 lead on Zach McKinstry’s run-scoring single as the rain returns
Zach McKinstry hit a run-scoring single off Pirates reliever Duane Underwood Jr. to give the Dodgers a 5-3 lead in the seventh inning.
The Dodgers threatened to score again later in the inning when they loaded the bases before reliever David Bednar entered the game and got two quick outs to squash the Dodgers’ surge.
McKinstry’s grounder to right drove in Cody Bellinger, who reached base on a single. Matt Beaty followed Bellinger with another single. Underwood was then relieved by Bednar when he walked Gavin Lux to load the bases with one out.
Bednar quickly got the second out when he fielded an infield dribbler by Austin Barnes to force out Beaty at home. Bednar then struck out Chris Taylor.
Phil Bickford relieved Julio Urías in the bottom of the inning and retired the Pirates in order. Urías allowed six hits, three earned runs, no walks and struck out five over six innings.
And the rain has returned to PNC Park.
End of seventh: Dodgers 5, Pirates 3
Dodgers lead Pirates 4-3 heading into the seventh
Austin Barnes led off with a walk, but was left stranded when Julio Urias, Mookie Betts and Max Muncy were retired in order.
Julio Urías retired the Pirates in order in the bottom half.
End of sixth: Dodgers 4, Pirates 3
Julio Urías retires the Pirates in order in the fifth inning
A pretty bland — and quick — inning for both teams. Julio Urías put down the Pirates in order, striking out Ben Gamel and Ke’Bryan Hayes to up his strikeout total to four for the game. He sits at 74 pitches through five innings.
Matt Beaty, Zach McKinstry and Gavin Lux were retired in order by Pirates reliever Chasen Shreve in the top of the inning.
End of fifth: Dodgers 4, Pirates 3
Dodgers flash some defense in the fourth inning
Julio Urías got a some help from his defense to preserve the Dodgers’ 4-3 lead in the fourth.
A couple of infield defensive gems by Zach McKinstry and Gavin Lux (and a nice catch by Max Muncy on the McKinstry throw) allowed the Dodgers to rack up a couple outs after Phillip Evans led off with a single. Mookie Betts then made a running catch in the deep right-field corner off a flare from Kevin Newman to strand Evans at third.
At the plate, Cody Bellinger hit in a 3-6-3 double play after Max Muncy grounded out and Justin Turner walked.
End of fourth: Dodgers 4, Pirates 3
Bryan Reynolds hits a two-run home run for Pirates to cut into Dodgers’ lead
Pittsburgh’s Bryan Reynolds hit a two-run home run off Dodgers starter Julio Urías to make it 4-3 Dodgers in the third inning.
It was Reynolds’ 10th home run of the season and came after Ke’Bryan Hayes reached base on a fielder’s choice that resulted in Adam Frazier being tagged out by Zach McKinstry in a rundown. Reynolds’ blast to the left-field corner was almost in the same exact place as the second home run Justin Turner hit on Wednesday, except there was no way left field Matt Beaty could attempt to make a play on it.
End of third: Dodgers 4, Pirates 3
Julio Urías drives in two runs to help give Dodgers a 4-1 lead
Julio Urías hit a two-run single and Zach McKinstry drove in a run on a sacrifice fly to give the Dodgers a 4-1 lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third inning.
Turner was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning before Cody Bellinger singled on a line drive to right. Pirates starter Mitch Keller, struggling with his command, then hit Matt Beaty on the foot with a pitch to load the bases with no outs. McKinstry then drove in Turner on pop fly to center.
After Gavin Lux hit into a fielder’s choice that snagged Beaty at second, Keller intentionally walked Austin Barnes to get to Urías. The Dodgers pitcher then upped his RBI total to seven on the season with a drive to right field in pouring rain that plated Bellinger and Lux. The hit ended Keller’s day on the mound, with reliever Chris Stratton striking out Mookie Betts to cap the surge.
Keller allowed five hits, four earned runs, walked three and struck out three over 2 2/3 innings. The rain let up between innings at PNC Park.
Mookie Betts’ spectacular throw keeps game tied 1-1 heading into third
Erik Gonzalez hits a run-scoring double off Dodgers starter Julio Urías to tie the game 1-1 in the second inning.
Gonzalez’s hit into the right-field corner drove in Phillip Evans from first. Evans reached base on an opposite-field single.
An amazing throw to home by Mookie Betts limited the damage. After making a catch on a flyball hit by Ka’ai Tom, Betts twirled and made a spectacular throw to get out Gonzalez at home plate.
Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts made an impressive double play against the Pirates on Thursday.
In the top of the inning. the Dodgers left the bases loaded when Max Muncy flied out to left. Gavin Lux singled and Austin Barnes and Mookie Betts each drew walks off Mitch Keller.
End of second: Dodgers 1, Pirates 1
Mookie Betts hits leadoff home run to give Dodgers 1-0 lead
Mookie Betts hit a leadoff home run to center fielder off Pittsburgh Pirates starter Mitch Keller to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
It was Betts’ 25th career leadoff home run and his sixth homer of the season.
The Dodgers’ quest to beat the Pirates for a 13th consecutive time and sweep the three-game series is off to a promising start.
Justin Turner singled two at-bats later, but Keller managed to strike out Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger before getting Matt Beaty to ground out.
Ke’Bryan Hayes hit a standup double to left center field that bounced off the warning track in front of Cody Bellinger. Hayes moved to third on Brian Reynolds’ sacrifice fly to center, but that’s as far as he got after Julio Urías got Jacob Stallings to ground out.
End of first: Dodgers 1, Pirates 0
Max Muncy back in the Dodgers’ lineup Thursday
Betting lines and odds for Dodgers vs. Pirates on Thursday
The Dodgers go for their second road sweep of the season against the Pittsburgh Pirates, who enter with an MLB worst -78 run differential.
Julio Urías, who is 5-1 on road with a 2.43 ERA over 37 innings, will start for the Dodgers.
Pirates starter Mitch Keller has struggled in comparison to Urías. He has a 6.65 ERA and has averaged six walks and 1.4 home runs per nine innings.
Both teams have bullpen ERAs between 3.36 and 3.42 over the past 30 days, though the Dodgers had to get 7 1/3 innings out of their relievers on Wednesday. Urías has gone least five innings in all 12 of his starts this season while Keller has pitched five innings or fewer innings in 10 of his 11 starts.
The Dodgers have covered just four of their last 12 games on the run line and are 13-19 on the run line in road games, second-worst to the Colorado Rockies among National League teams. The Pirates have scored three runs or fewer in 11 of their last 17 games.
VSiN, the Sports Betting Network, offers more expert sports betting content in a free daily email at VSiN.com/email.
Justin Turner’s homers, Dodgers’ bullpen hold off Pirates
The plan for Tony Gonsolin’s season debut Wednesday was for the right-hander to pitch four or five innings, depending on his efficiency, and leave the Dodgers’ days of bullpen games behind them.
Gonsolin was activated to join the Dodgers’ starting rotation, giving them five starters for the first time since Dustin May blew out his elbow May 1. The Dodgers didn’t use a conventional starter four times over the next 32 games. Having Gonsolin eat innings should alleviate the bullpen’s workload and allow manager Dave Roberts to use relievers more aggressively on other days, indirectly curbing the other four starters’ workloads as the Dodgers see fit.
But Wednesday’s 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park turned into a bullpen game anyway. Gonsolin gave up a run in just 12/3 innings. He faced 12 batters, walked five, surrendered two hits and posted four strikeouts. He needed 66 pitches to secure the five outs.
“I gotta throw more strikes,” Gonsolin said. “I gotta figure it out.”
Kenley Jansen records the final out on a comebacker in a 2-1 Dodgers win
Kenley Jansen caught a comebacker off the bat of Ke’Bryan Hayes to record the final out and preserve the Dodgers’ 2-1 victory over the Pirates at PNC Park on Wednesday.
Jansen fell behind in the count 0-3 before battling back against the young Pirates standout. Hayes then hit an eighth-pitch laser just to the left of Jansen’s head. The reliever quickly snagged the ball and fell to ground before getting up and smiling. Ka’ai Tom was left stranded at second after leading off the bottom of the ninth with a walk.
Chris Taylor drew his second walk of the game in the top half of the inning, but he was left stranded when Justin Turner grounded out to force him out at second. Max Muncy, who didn’t start because of a right ankle injury, was visibly upset he didn’t go yard after he led off the inning by flying out to deep center field.
The Dodgers improved to 36-25 and Pittsburgh fell to 23-37 heading into Thursday’s series finale at 9:30 a.m. PDT. The Dodgers have beaten the Pirates 12 consecutive times.
Final: Dodgers 2, Pirates 1
Dodgers maintain 2-1 lead heading into the ninth inning
Blake Treinen and Kenley Jansen combined on a 1-2-3 inning for the Pirates in the eighth, with Jansen striking out Michael Perez on three pitches for the final out.
In the top of the inning, Will Smith drew an eight-pitch walk, but that was all Pirates reliever Sam Howard would give the Dodgers. Gavin Lux and Cody Bellinger each grounded out and AJ Pollock flied out.
End of eighth: Dodgers 2, Pirates 1
Dodgers miss out on scoring chance, but still hold onto a one-run lead
Justin Turner’s third hit of the game — a two-out single off Pirates reliever Clay Holmes — moved Chris Taylor to third. But the Dodgers missed out on a chance to extend the lead when Albert Pujols grounded out on the next at-bat.
Blake Treinen became the fifth Dodgers pitcher and he retired the Pirates in order thanks, in part, to an exceptional defensive play by Taylor, who turned a double play to cap the inning. Taylor corralled a scorcher off the bat of Phillip Evans, then sprinted to second base to beat a sliding Bryan Reynolds before gunning out Evans at first.
End of seventh: Dodgers 2, Pirates 1
Dodgers hang onto one-run lead heading into the seventh inning
Joe Kelly replaced David Price on the mound for the Dodgers, and other than allowing a walk to Ben Gamel, made quick work of the Pirates.
The Dodgers, looking for their 12th consecutive win over the Pirates, couldn’t muster much offense during their at-bats, either. AJ Pollock hit a two-walk single, followed by a four-pitch walk to Will Smith before Gavin Lux flied out to right.
End of sixth: Dodgers 2, Pirates 1
Dodgers hold onto lead heading into the sixth inning
Pittsburgh’s Colin Moran had to leave the game after getting hit by a pitch from David Price, which allowed two on with one out for the Pirates. But Price managed to get Gregory Polanco to ground out before Kevin Newman flied out to center to end the inning.
At the plate, Chris Taylor singled, but David Price, Mookie Betts and Justin Turner each grounded out to make it a pretty straightforward inning for Pirates starter Tyler Anderson.
End of fifth: Dodgers 2, Pirates 1
Dodgers hold onto 2-1 lead over Pirates heading into the fifth
David Price, the third Dodgers pitcher of the game, retired the Pirates in order. He struck out Ka’ai Tom on three pitches to lead off his stint on the mound.
Price took over for Victor González, who gave the Dodgers 1 1/3 innings of solid relief, defusing a bases-loaded jam left by starter Tony Gonsolin in the second before retiring the Pirates in order in the third.
Pirates starter Tyler Anderson retired the Dodgers 1-2-3 in the top half.
End of the fourth: Dodgers 2, Pirates 1
Justin Turner hits another solo home run — this time off the left fielder’s glove
Justin Turner hit his second solo home run of the game after the ball ricocheted off the glove of wall-climbing Pirates left fielder Ka’ai Tom in the third inning, giving the Dodgers a 2-1 lead.
The ball was on the way to going over the left-field wall before Tom tried to rob him. Tom managed to jump up the wall and touch the ball with his glove, but he couldn’t make the catch.
It was Turner’s 11th home run of the season and second of the game after he hit a blast to center field in the first inning.
Victor González retired the Pirates in order in the bottom half of the inning.
End of third: Dodgers 2, Pirates 1
Tony Gonsolin’s first start of the season ends after 1 2/3 innings and 66 pitches
Tony Gonsolin’s season debut lasted only 1 2/3 innings.
The Dodgers right-hander, playing in his first game coming off a shoulder injury, struggled with his command and loaded the bases on three consecutive walks in the second. After making his 66th pitch, resulting in a walk to Bryan Reynolds, he got the hook in favor of Victor González.
Gonzalez managed to get Colin Moran to line out to left, giving the Pirates six runners stranded on base through two innings.
Gonsolin opened the second with a couple of outs against the bottom of the Pirates’ order, before walking Adam Frazier, Ke’Bryan Hayes and Reynolds.
In the top of the inning, Gavin Lux drew a two-out walk but was left stranded when Gonsolin flied out to center.
End of second: Dodgers 1, Pirates 1
Pirates tie game on run-scoring single by Gregory Polanco
A run-scoring single by Gregory Polano off Dodgers starter Tony Gonsolin tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first.
Bryan Reynolds scored despite not beating the throw home. Reynolds got a foot on the plate just before Dodgers catcher Will Smith crossed over to make the tag. Smith also applied the tag on top of the plate rather than in front of it.
Gonsolin, making his first start of the season coming off a shoulder injury, is laboring with his command. He allowed a leadoff single Adam Frazier. He then struck out Ke’Bryan Hayes and got Bryan Reynolds to ground into a 3-6 fielder’s choice before walking Colin Moran.
After Polanco’s hit to shallow right field along the foul line prompted a mound visit by pitching coach Mark Prior, Gonsolin walked Kevin Newman on five pitches. With David Price warming up in the bullpen, Gonsolin struck out Michael Perez with the bases loaded on his 36th pitch.
End of first: Dodgers 1, Pirates 1
Justin Turner’s home run gives Dodgers 1-0 lead in the first
Justin Turner hit a solo home run off Pirates starter Tyler Anderson to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
It was the 10th home run of the season for Turner and his second career homer off Anderson.
Mookie Betts struck out looking on a corner-painting fastball by Tyler Anderson to lead off the game before Chris Taylor flied out to left.
After Turner’s home run, Albert Pujols singled to center and Cody Bellinger popped out to the second baseman in shallow right field to end the top of the inning.
Max Muncy’s ankle injury is a bit of a mystery
PITTSBURGH — Max Muncy is expected to be in the Dodgers’ lineup Thursday, weather permitting, after not starting Wednesday as he deals with an odd right ankle injury. Muncy started in Tuesday’s win over the Pirates and went 2 for 5. On Wednesday, however, he said the ankle remained sore.
Muncy said he began feeling pain in the ankle Friday against the Atlanta Braves when he ran off the field during the fourth inning. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called it a mild sprain, but Muncy said the medical staff isn’t sure what’s causing the discomfort after X-rays were negative.
“Thankfully, it doesn’t seem like it’s anything that’s too serious,” Muncy said. “Last night was good. It felt good to be out there. It didn’t feel like it was too bad.”
The Dodgers will manage Muncy carefully. Roberts said he will not play second base until the pain subsides, limiting him to first base. Muncy had been playing more second base since Corey Seager’s hand injury forced the Dodgers to move Gavin Lux from second base to shortstop.
The 30-year-old slugger leads the Dodgers in home runs (13), on-base percentage (.422), slugging percentage (.524), walks (45) and OPS+ (165).
Start of Wednesday’s Dodgers-Pirates game delayed
PITTSBURGH — First pitch between the Dodgers and Pirates, scheduled for 4:05 p.m. PT, was delayed as rolled through PNC Park.
First pitch is tentatively scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET/5:15 p.m. PT.
Tuesday’s series opener started 15 minutes late because of rain. More rain is expected Thursday for the clubs’ matinee series finale scheduled for 12:35 p.m. local/9:35 p.m. PT.
Dodgers activate Tony Gonsolin; pitcher will make season debut Wednesday
PITTSBURGH — As expected, the Dodgers activated Tony Gonsolin from the injured list Wednesday hours before making his season debut.
His return required creating spots on both the active and 40-man rosters. To do that, the Dodgers placed Yoshi Tsutguso on the 10-day injured list with a right calf strain and transferred Scott Alexander to the 60-day injured list.
The Dodgers acquired the 29-year-old Tsutsugo from the Tampa Bay Rays last month. He’s 3 for 25 with 12 strikeouts and six walks in 12 games as a Dodger. He has started six games in left field, but hasn’t started a game since May 28.
Alexander was placed on the 10-day injured list May 7 with shoulder inflammation. He’s eligible to come off the 60-day injured list July 2.
Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler held the Pirates scoreless as the team held off a late rally to win 5-3 on Tuesday in Pittsburgh.
Replacing Tsutsugo with a pitcher — Gonsolin will serve as the Dodgers’ fifth starter — leaves the Dodgers with a four-man bench on Wednesday. But that includes Max Muncy, who has been hindered by a right ankle injury he suffered Friday.
Muncy started Tuesday and went 2 for 5, but he said Wednesday that the ankle remains sore. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called it a mild sprain, but Muncy said the Dodgers aren’t sure what’s wrong. He is expected to start Thursday at first base and won’t play second base until the ankle improves.
DODGERS (35-25)
Mookie Betts RF
Chris Taylor 2B
Justin Turner 3B
Albert Pujols 1B
Cody Bellinger CF
AJ Pollock LF
Will Smith C
Gavin Lux SS
Tony Gonsolin P
Walker Buehler shuts down Pirates as Dodgers win to end two-game skid
The Dodgers reached the 60-game mark, an irrelevant checkpoint made noteworthy after Major League Baseball’s shortened 2020 season, in Tuesday’s 5-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Last year, the Dodgers finished their 60-game regular-season schedule 43-17. It was the best winning percentage by a National League club since the 1909 Pirates. Both teams went on to win the World Series. This year, the Dodgers are in third place and eight games worse, sitting at 35-25 after handling a tanking Pirates club light-years from that championship team from more than a century ago.
The Dodgers are looking to capitalize on a weak part of their 162-game schedule to string together victories at a clip similar to last year’s run. Tuesday was their fourth of 15 straight games against teams with losing records. They’ve won 11 straight games against the Pirates and 18 of 20. They’ll have two more chances to pound the last-place Pirates (23-36) at PNC Park before returning to Los Angeles.
“Obviously, we’d like to be leading the standings; we’re not,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Our best baseball, in my opinion, is yet to come. We’re fortunate that it’s 162, but we knew that going into the season.”
Pirates’ ninth-inning rally comes up short, Dodgers win 5-3
Top of the ninth:
AJ Pollock flew out to left field for the first out. Matt Beaty pinch-hit for Joe Kelly. Beaty was hit by the first pitch he saw. Mooke Betts lined out to left field for the second out. Max Muncy flew out to deep center field for the third out.
Bottom of the ninth:
Nate Jones relieved Joe Kelly.
Bryan Reynolds homered on the first pitch he saw to left-center field.
Jones struck out Colin Moran to get back on the right track. Jacob Stallings struck out for the second out.
Michael Perez pinch-hit for Duane Underwood Jr. and hit a home run to right field for the second run of the inning.
Kenley Jansen relieved Jones.
Phillip Evans struck out to end the game.
End of the ninth: Dodgers 5, Pirates 3
Adam Frazier’s double ends shutout in eighth, 5-1 Dodgers
Top of the eighth:
Duane Underwood Jr. relieved Chris Stratton.
Will Smith grounded to shortstop for the first out. Chris Taylor flew out to left field for the second out. Gavin Lux grounded out to second base for the third out.
Bottom of the eighth:
Joe Kelly relieved Walker Buehler.
Phillip Evans singled to right field to start the bottom half. Kevin Newman grounded out to shortstop for the fielder’s choice, moving Evans to second. Ka’ai Tom, part of the defensive substitution during a double switch, flew out to right out but advanced Evans to third.
Adam Frazier lined a double down the right-field line to score Evans, breaking the shutout for the Pirates.
Ke’Bryan Hayes grounded out to second base for the third out.
End of the eighth: Dodgers 5, Pirates 1
Walker Buehler holds Pirates scoreless through seven innings
Top of the seventh:
Walker Buehler lined another single to right field to begin the top half. Buehler is three for his last six at-bats. Mookie Betts grounded out to third base for the 5-4-3 double play. Max Muncy singled through the shift for his second consecutive hit. Muncy’s hit registered the Dodgers’ 10th for the night. Justin Turner’s on-base streak was extended to 12 straight starts with his walk in the seventh. Cody Bellinger grounded out to second for the third out.
Bottom of the seventh:
Colin Moran grounded out to third base for the first out. Jacob Stallings popped out to shortstop for the second out. Gregory Polanco popped out to second base for the third out.
End of the seventh: Dodgers 5, Pirates 0
Chris Taylor’s two-run home run extends Dodgers’ lead
Top of the sixth:
Chris Stratton relieved Chasen Shreve.
Cody Bellinger grounded out to first base for the first out. Will Smith singled to center field.
Chris Taylor hit a two-run home run over the left-field wall for his eighth home run of the season.
Gavin Lux grounded out to second base for the second out. AJ Pollock grounded out to third for the third out.
Bottom of the sixth:
Walker Buehler collected his first strikeout of the game against Adam Frazier for the first out. Ke’Bryan Hayes flew out to deep center field for the second out. Bryan Reynolds struck out on a knee-high fastball for Buehler’s second strikeout of the game
End of the sixth: Dodgers 5, Pirates 0
Three-run fifth opens up scoring for Dodgers
Top of the fifth:
Chris Taylor hit a ground ball to shortstop for the first out. Gavin Lux lined a shot to right field that Gregory Polanco missed and allowed Lux to make his way up to third base; the hit was ruled a single.
AJ Pollock ripped an RBI double to deep center field that squeaked by the outstretched glove of Bryan Reynolds to give the Dodgers the first run of the game. One out, runner on second. Walker Buehler grounded out to second base for the second out, moving Pollock to third. Mookie Betts tripled to deep right-center field to score Pollock. Reynolds was 0-for-2 on diving catches thus far, but can’t be mad at the effort.
JT Brubaker was relieved by Chasen Shreve.
Max Muncy’s single to right field brought in Betts for the third run of the inning. Justin Turner grounded out to shortstop for the fielder’s choice to end the top half.
Bottom of the fifth:
Phillip Evans flew out to center field for the first out. Kevin Newman flew out to right field for the second out. Ben Gamel came in to pinch-hit for Shreve. Gamel lined out to left field for the third out.
End of the fifth: Dodgers 3, Pirates 0
Pitchers’ duel through four innings
Top of the fourth:
Justin Turner popped out to shallow center field, caught by the shortstop for the first out. Cody Bellinger struck out looking for the second out. JT Brubaker has struck out five batters, all looking up to this point. Will Smith struck out swinging to end the top half.
Bottom of the fourth:
Colin Moran grounded out to second base for the first out. Jacob Stallings flew out to center field for the second out. Gregory Polanco grounded out to second base for the final out.
End of the fourth: Dodgers 0, Pirates 0
It’s been a rough season for the Pirates
Ke’Bryan Hayes missed first base after hitting an apparent home run in the top of the first, costing the Pirates a run. It’s not the first goofy moment for Pittsburgh this season — or even in the last two weeks.
On May 27 the Cubs’ Javier Báez grounded a ball to third base. When the throw to first pulled the Pirates’ Will Craig off the bag, Báez retreated toward home. Rather than tagging the base, Craig followed the backtracking Báez toward the plate, which gave Willson Contreras enough time to sprint home with the run in a 5-3 Chicago win. B´aez would reach second when Pirates catcher Michael Pérez then errantly threw the ball past first.
You can read more about the play here:
Chicago Cubs’ Javier Baez somehow got Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Will Craig to chase him in a rundown between home and first, part of a bizarre sequence of events.
Ke’Bryan Hayes makes another out on the bases, ends third inning
Top of the third:
AJ Pollock grounded out to shortstop for the first out. On the ninth pitch of the at-bat, Walker Buehler lined a single up the middle. Mookie Betts struck out looking on a low and away slider that Betts wasn’t sure was a strike, but ultimately it’s not up to him. Max Muncy struck out looking on an inside fastball for the third out.
Bottom of the third:
Adam Frazier grounded out to second base for the first out. Ke’Bryan Hayes hit a single into left-center field, and he ensured that he touched first base this time around. Bryan Reynolds flew out left field for the second out, and Hayes was caught trying to tag up to second base. Mark it as a putout and an assist for AJ Pollock.
Walker Buehler sneaks out of second inning unscathed
Top of the second:
Cody Bellinger lined a single into center field. That hit made it 28 straight games on base for Bellinger, the longest active streak in the majors. Will Smith grounded into a fielder’s choice to second base that allowed Bellinger to advance to second. Chris Taylor struck out looking on a 2-2 slider on the outer half of the plate for the second out. Gavin Lux struck out looking on a two-seam fastball to end the top half.
Bottom of the second:
Colin Moran hit a single to shallow center field. Jacob Stallings flew out to left field for the first out. Gregory Polanco flew out to right field for the second out. Phillip Evans grounded to shortstop Lux, who bobbled the ball, allowing Evans to reach first base safely and advance Moran to second. Kevin Newman walked on a 3-2 fastball to load the bases. Two outs and Walker Buehler has only thrown 22 pitches. JT Brubaker, the pitcher for the Pirates, grounded out to shortstop for the 6-4 putout to end the inning.
End of the second: Dodgers 0, Pirates 0
Ke’Bryan Hayes misses first base, negates home run (Video)
Top of the first:
Mookie Betts flew out to left field to begin the game. Max Muncy, making his return to the starting lineup, fouled out to the catcher. Justin Turner grounded out to third for the final out.
Bottom of the first:
Walker Buehler took the mound for the Dodgers.
Adam Frazier started the bottom half how Betts began the top half, with a flyout to left field. Ke’Bryan Hayes homered to the opposite field, hitting the right field foul pole ... but because Hayes missed first base when rounding the bases, he was called out after a challenge by the Dodgers. Bryan Reynolds grounded out to first base.
End of the first: Dodgers 0, Pirates 0
Dodgers eyeing beginning of July for Corey Seager’s return
PITTSBURGH – Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Corey Seager is expected to take two-handed swings off a tee in the next couple of days, the next step in his recovery from his fractured right hand.
From there, Roberts said, Seager’s ramp up should be “pretty quick” before coming off the injured list. Roberts said expecting the 27-year-old shortstop to return in early July “is totally fair.”
“The way I see him right now,” Roberts said, “it’s just kind of contingent on how he responds to swinging a bat with two hands.”
Seager broke the fifth metacarpal in his hand when he was hit by a pitch May 15. He underwent a weekly scan of the hand Saturday. Roberts said it showed more healing in the bone.
“It is quicker than what I would’ve expected,” Roberts said of Seager’s recovery. “You have a young body that certainly heals pretty quickly and you have an eager player and that kind of lends itself to that.”
Seager, an impending free agent, is batting .265 with four home runs and a .783 OPS in 37 games this season.
Roberts said catcher Austin Barnes, who sprained his ankle Sunday in Atlanta, is scheduled to start Thursday’s series finale against the Pirates.
And in bullpen news, Roberts said he expects Scott Alexander (shoulder) to be activated in late June or early July. Alexander was placed on the injured list May 6.
Start of Dodgers-Pirates is delayed by weather
Rain before the start of the Dodgers’ game against the Pirates in Pittsburgh has delayed first pitch by 30 minutes.
Max Muncy returns to Dodgers’ lineup Tuesday against Pirates
How to watch the Dodgers vs. Pirates series
The Dodgers close out their three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.
Here’s how to watch this week’s three-game series between the Dodgers and the Pittsburgh Pirates:
How to stream
Spectrum SportsNet LA is available with a subscription to AT&T TV “Choice Plan” ($84.99 / mo.). You can stream the game on your Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast, and your browser.
Fans outside of the Los Angeles market can stream the games using MLB.TV.
Thursday’s game will be available on YouTube.
How to watch on TV
Spectrum SportsNet LA and SportsNet LA Desportes are carrying the games on cable and satellite providers.
How to listen
In Los Angeles, the games can be heard on 570 AM or 1020 AM (Español).
Betting lines and odds for Dodgers vs. Pirates on Tuesday
The Dodgers continue their East Coast road trip on Tuesday against a Pittsburgh Pirates team that has a league-worst -75 run differential.
The Dodgers send Walker Buehler. He has allowed two runs or fewer in each of his four road starts.
Buehler is backed by a lineup that leads MLB with 5.3 runs per game. The lineup will face JT Brubaker, who is 3-1 with a 2.01 ERA in Pittsburgh this season with 1.2 walks and 1.2 home runs per nine innings.
The Pirates have played five of their last six games over the total while the Dodgers have scored at least four runs in 11 of their last 14 games.
The Dodgers are 12-18 on the run line in road games, the third-worst mark in the league. The Pirates have a league-worst 24-29 record as an underdog on the run line.
Why the Dodgers’ oversized bet on Trevor Bauer might spin out of control
Under their current owners, the Dodgers have taken pride in refusing to adhere to the fundamental spirit of baseball’s compensation system, which is to reward players for what they’ve done in the past and not necessarily for what they’ll do in the future.
Ironically, that’s the very position the Dodgers are now in with their high-profile free-agent acquisition from the winter who characterized the organization’s forward-thinking culture.
Just two months into the season, Trevor Bauer isn’t the same pitcher the Dodgers signed in the winter.
The Dodgers invested $102 million in the right-hander believing he was a frontline starter, but who knows what they’re paying for now that the commissioner’s office has informed teams it would start enforcing rules prohibiting the doctoring of baseballs.
The transformation was as instantaneous as it was pronounced.
Dodgers still waiting for season to take off as they enter soft part of schedule
PITTSBURGH — The Dodgers’ 2021 season so far resembles the cryptocurrency market, cycling through spikes and dips, in the green but still waiting to blast to the moon.
The club, pegged as the overwhelming World Series favorites two months ago, is now navigating through another downswing. The Dodgers lost two of three games to the Atlanta Braves over the weekend. They’ve lost six of nine games and sit in third place in the National League West. The stretch comes after they began the season 13-2 then went 5-15 then went 13-2 again.
What was projected as a two-team race between the Dodgers and San Diego Padres has a third wheel out front — the San Francisco Giants sitting in first place.
The Dodgers’ three games in Atlanta were the first of 15 games against teams under .500. Next up is a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the team best known this season for letting Javy Báez toy with them on the bases, starting Tuesday at PNC Park.