The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t excel with runners in scoring position but AJ Pollock and Matt Beaty provided timely hits in a 4-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Dodgers extended their winning streak to five games and additionally have won 15 in a row against the Pirates.
L.A. put two on with nobody out in both the first and second innings, but failed to capitalize on either instance. Corey Seager then led off the third with a double and Cody Bellinger later blooped an extra-base hit to put runners in scoring position with one out.
Pollock followed that with more soft contact as his flare had enough carry past the infield to drop for a two-run single that gave the Dodgers a 2-0 lead.
Pittsburgh answered right back in the fourth inning, scoring the tying run when Gavin Lux made a poor throw to home plate after fielding a chopper at the edge of the grass. Lux later committed a second error in his first Major League start at third base.
#Dodgers were living right on soft contact in the 3rd.pic.twitter.com/9jmgKqerpx
— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) August 18, 2021
Ahoy, Beaty! pic.twitter.com/6PLbVxl2lX
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 18, 2021
“He’s a great defender,” Beaty said of Lux after the game. “He’s going to be just fine.”
Making just his second start of the month, Beaty provided the Dodgers with a lead when he pulled a two-run double down the first-base line in the fifth inning. Beaty said he’s put an emphasis on avoiding pressure of trying to do too much with his opportunities, whether starting or appearing off the bench.
Dodgers bullpen backs Price
David Price allowed two runs over 4.2 innings and was followed by Corey Knebel, Phil Bickford and Blake Treinen combining to retire 10 batters in a row.
Kenley Jansen surrendered a leadoff double to Yoshi Tsutsugo in the ninth inning and that led to a run before he could convert the save.
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