Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
After dropping the first two games of the series and road trip, the Dodgers started quickly tonight against the Pirates. However, the Pirates slowly chipped away thanks to some sloppy defensive play, but it was the Dodgers who had the biggest inning and made it an easy 11-7 victory.
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To say the Dodgers offense started off hot would be an understatement, as Mookie Betts led off with a single, Shohei Ohtani was granted a single on review, and Freddie Freeman immediately drilled his eighth homer of the year for a 3-0 lead. After Teoscar Hernandez doubled, Miguel Rojas singled to score another and make it 4-0 in the 1st
The big 3-0! pic.twitter.com/MbQPlYlNbE
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 6, 2024
After Teoscar doubled off the wall, Miguel Rojas singles to make it a four-spot. pic.twitter.com/7qyogJgeyE
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 6, 2024
Unfortunately, it was the Pirates who then got going. In the 2nd, Walker Buehler was victimized by a pair of errors, and then a run came home on a single.
There was more trouble in the 3rd, as a pair of singles and stolen bases led to a run scoring on a sacrifice fly, and then the game being tied on a two-run shot from Nick Gonzales. 4-4.
Buehler labored today, lasting just three innings, having thrown 78 pitches over that period.
Fortunately, the 5th inning happened. Teoscar started it with his 13th homer of the year to give the Dodgers the lead again at 5-4.
Teoscar Hernández goes oppo to give the @Dodgers the lead! pic.twitter.com/z71vyS96tn
— MLB (@MLB) June 7, 2024
Then Andy Pages got hit by a pitch, Rojas singled, Enrique Hernandez doubled to score a run, Enrique scored on a throwing error on a steal, then after an Austin Barnes single, it was Mookie smacking his 10th of the year to cap a six-run inning and make it 10-4.
Dodgers put up a six-spot thanks to an Enrique Hernandez double, a throwing error, and Mookie Betts' three-run blast. pic.twitter.com/cFJ02rdsCn
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 7, 2024
They added another in the 6th behind a Teoscar single, Pages walk, and Rojas’ third hit of the day. 11-4.
Offensive threat Miguel Rojas has three hits, including this double. pic.twitter.com/7cG9S3S8jW
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 7, 2024
With Buehler going out early, it was up to the pen to cover six more innings. They did just that. Michael Grove was first out and got a pair of scoreless frames, then Daniel Hudson and Blake Treinen put up scoreless frames of their own.
In the 8th it was closer Evan Phillips, who was victimized by two “hits”, one that handcuffed Miguel Vargas in left and the other that got under Mookie’s glove at short. Oneil Cruz then drilled a three run homer to cut the lead to 11-7.
The most tense thing was watching Phillips be allowed to throw 30 pitches on what was basically an appearance to get work in.
Alex Vesia closed the game out in the 9th, thankfully not a save situation.
A season high 12 Ks for the bullpen tonight. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/kEI8p7tRhZ
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 7, 2024
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| NL WEST | RECORD |
|---|---|
| Dodgers | 39-25 |
| Padres | 32-33 (7.5 GB)* |
| Giants | 30-33 (8.5 GB) |
*Either still playing or will play later.
The Dodgers will now fly to New York for a series against the Yankees starting at 1:05 PM HT/4:05 PM PT/7:05 PM ET. Kicking things off will be Yoshinobu Yamamoto against Cody Poteet on Apple TV+.
