The Los Angeles Dodgers picked up a series win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, defeating them 4-1 and setting up the chance at a sweep on Sunday.
Gavin Lux started the scoring early in the first inning, driving in Teoscar Hernández with an RBI single to put the Dodgers up 1-0. Hernández reached on a double against Pirates rookie and All-Star Paul Skenes.
In the third inning, Lux got to Skenes again to extend the Dodgers’ lead. Nick Ahmed started them off with a single and Hernández followed with another infield single.
Lux then roped a two-run single down the right field line to give the Dodgers a 3-0 lead.
In the fifth inning, Teoscar Hernández appeared to be tired of Lux driving in all the runs, so he blasted a solo home run, his 26th of the season. That gave the Dodgers a 4-0 lead.
The four runs given up by Skenes are the most he’s allowed in a single game thus far in his career. The right-hander was making his 15th start, and he’s posted a 2.25 ERA through 92 innings.
The Dodgers countered with a rookie right-hander, sending River Ryan to the mound to start the game. He out-pitched Skenes for the game, but unfortunately, his night ended in a poor way.
River Ryan exits early for Dodgers
Ryan dealt with some traffic in the outing against the Pirates, but kept them scoreless into the fifth inning. However, he was not able to continue after recording two outs in the inning due to right forearm tightness.
On his final pitch, he threw a 91 mph slider, but appeared to be feeling some discomfort. That prompted Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and head athletic trainer Thomas Albert to check on Ryan, who attempted to lobby his way into remaining in the game before being removed.
Ryan finished his start with 4.2 innings pitched, allowing no runs on four hits with four strikeouts and no walks.
Alex Vesia, Evan Phillips, Michael Grove and Michael Kopech got the Dodgers to the ninth inning without a run allowed. Daniel Hudson took the ninth and gave up a solo homer to Ke’Bryan Hayes.
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