The Los Angeles Dodgers rallied late to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 8-7 extending their winning streak to a season-high-tying three games. The Dodgers additionally snapped the Pirates’ winning streak at seven games.
Noah Syndergaard was spotted an early lead thanks to Miguel Vargas dropping a two-run double into shallow right field with two outs in the first inning. The table had been set for Vargas by Freddie Freeman drawing a walk and Jason Heyward reaching on catcher’s interference.
Then with the Dodgers trailing 7-3, James Outman led off the sixth inning with an opposite-field double as he continues to make an early case for NL Rookie of the Year. Vargas walked and two batters later, Michael Busch collected the first hit and RBI of his career on a single into center field.
Chris Taylor joined the rally with a bloop single to give him a first multi-hit game of the season, and Austin Barnes’ sacrifice fly kept the pressure on the Pirates’ bullpen. Mookie Betts nearly gave the Dodgers a lead but Suwinski made a leaping catch in left field to rob him of a three-run home run.
There was no such luck in the eighth inning on Taylor’s drive to deep left field that carried out for a go-ahead, three-run homer. Taylor was in position to put the Dodgers ahead after Busch’s walk brought the tying run to the plate.
Busch went 1-for-3 with one RBI and the key walk in his MLB debut.
Syndergaard, Dodgers struggle to contain running game
Syndergaard’s trouble with holding runners began immediately as Tucupita Marcano singled and stole second base in the bottom of the first inning. That was ultimately cashed in by Carlos Santana on a two-out RBI single.
Suwinski reached on an infield single, though David Peralta kept the Dodgers ahead by laying out for an inning-ending diving catch.
But the Pirates were off and running again in the second inning, albeit Ji Hwan Bae’s stolen base was somewhat of a moot point when Syndergaard hit Austin Hedges with a pitch to put two on. Ke’Bryan Hayes then put Pittsburgh ahead with a two-run double.
Bae’s second stolen base of the game led to another run in the fourth inning when Hedges followed it with a single. Syndergaard was one out away from limiting the damage but surrendered a three-run home run to Andrew McCutchen.
Syndergaard pitched just four innings, with the seven hits and nine runs allowed both season-highs. It was also the first time Syndergaard allowed seven runs since August 28, 2019. He entered the night having turned in a quality start in three of four outings this season.
With the Pirates success, opponents are now 9-for-9 on stolen bases against Syndergaard, and have 29 swipes in 34 attempts off the Dodgers pitching staff as a whole.
Syndergaard was followed by five shutout innings from the Dodgers bullpen, capped off with Shelby Miller converting his first career save.
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