The Los Angeles Dodgers twice loaded the bases on Gerrit Cole through the first six innings but had nothing to show for it. In turn, the Pittsburgh Pirates maintained a 3-0 lead that had been built on a trio of home runs hit off Alex Wood.
The Dodgers loaded the bases a third time and managed to break through in the seventh inning. With two on and one out, Corey Seager pulled an RBI single into right field. Justin Turner followed with a single to left that loaded the bases.
Curtis Granderson, who had struck out in each of his first two at-bats, crushed a hanging slider from Cole over the wall in right-center field for a grand slam.
Granderson became the first player in MLB history to hit a grand slam with different teams during a four-game stretch, and the first to do so as a leadoff and cleanup hitter in the same season.
The grand slam was also the Dodgers’ eighth this season, which is tied with the 1952 Broolyn team for third-most in franchise history.
The 5-3 lead didn’t hold, however, as Pedro Baez allowed an inherited baserunner, plus another to score. Baez exited with the bases loaded, which Brandon Morrow worked out of to keep the game tied.
It went into extra innings and reached the 12th before Yasiel Puig rose to the occasion yet again. Having already robbed Andrew McCutchen of an extra-base hit, Puig added to his highlight reel with a leadoff home run.
The game-winning hit was Puig’s second in the last five games, and the extra-innings home run was his first of the season. Overall, Puig has slugged 22 homers this season, which matches his total from the 2015 and 2016 seasons combined.
He celebrated the big night by collaborating with Turner to recreate an eclipse in the clubhouse.
