The Los Angeles Dodgers got to standout rookie Paul Skenes early en route to a 4-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday that clinched a series win.
The Dodgers took an early 1-0 in the first inning when Gavin Lux doubled home Teoscar Hernández with two outs. Lux would add another RBI hit in the third as part of a 2-for-4 effort against the Pirates.
Hernández then provided some insurance in the fifth with a solo home run that increased the Dodgers’ lead to four. He finished his night with three hits in four at-bats.
Skenes took only the second loss of his career after allowing four runs in six innings of work. He credited Lux, Hernández and the rest of the Dodgers lineup for putting together good swings, via Alex Stumpf of MLB.com:
“I thought I executed pretty much all of those pitches,” Skenes said. “Against Lux, the sinker was maybe a little too far in. The four-seam drifted across the plate a little bit. Against Teoscar, I don’t think I didn’t execute any of those pitches. He’s a good hitter and he got to them. Gotta tip your cap. They’re good hitters.”
Saturday marked Skenes’ second career start against the Dodgers but his first at Dodger Stadium. The Southern California native enjoyed being back in his home state and pitching at the historic ballpark:
“It’s cool,” Skenes said with a grin. “Cool stadium. Nice to be in California weather again.”
The four runs the Dodgers scored against Skenes were the most he has allowed in a start this season. He went into the outing having given up three runs twice in his previous 14 starts.
While the Dodgers managed to have success against Skenes, he still finished with eight strikeouts, which tied for his third-most in a start.
Gavin Lux had ‘extra adrenaline’ facing Paul Skenes
Lux, who has been a steady contributor for the Dodgers in the second half, enjoyed the challenge of facing Skenes. “I think every at-bat is important, whether it’s against a mop-up guy or the Paul Skenes of the world,” Lux began.
“But yeah, I think there’s a little extra adrenaline in there when you’re facing a guy that has that good of stuff. We’re all competitors, so I think there’s a little extra something there, for sure.”
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