Blake Snell was hurt by self-inflicted mistakes and the Los Angeles Dodgers remained stuck in a rut offensively as they suffered a 5-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the series finale.
Prior to this week at PNC Park, the last time the Dodgers had been swept by the Pirates was May 30-June 1, 2022, which occurred at Dodger Stadium. Furthermore, the Pirates won the season series by taking four of six head-to-head meetings.
Snell allowed five runs and pitched just five innings. Snell’s fastball velocity was back to its normal averages after a drop off in his last start.
Snell initially matched scoreless innings with Paul Skenes before allowing the Pirates to take what held as a decided lead in the third inning. Bryan Reynolds led off with a single and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch.
Then a second wild pitch in the inning gave Reynolds another free 90 feet and prompted the Dodgers to play their infield in. That made what likely would have been a double play ball easily carry through the middle for an RBI single hit by Tommy Pham.
The Pirates later opened the fifth inning with three singles in a row that extended their lead to 2-0. After an intentional walk loaded the bases with one out, Nick Yorke attacked a first-pitch curveball for a two-run double. An RBI groundout capped off the Pirates’ four-run inning.
Paul Skenes wasn’t particularly sharp but he still retired the first eight batters faced before Dalton Rushing doubled off the wall in right-center field. Shohei Ohtani followed with a walk, but both runners were stranded when Mookie Betts grounded out to end the third inning.
The Dodgers then didn’t have another baserunner until Miguel Rojas reached on a single with two outs in the fifth inning. Skenes struck out Rushing to preserve the Pirates’ 1-0 lead. His night came to an end with eight strikeouts and just two hits allowed over six scoreless innings.
The Pirates have now won Skenes’ last eight home starts, six of which have been shutout efforts by the impressive right-hander.
Betts prevented the Dodgers from being shut out for a second game in a row by leading off the ninth inning with a home run. Andy Pages added an RBI infield single and Miguel Rojas drove a runner in with two outs before the Pirates could end the Dodgers’ comeback bid.
Dodgers without Will Smith
Although Will Smith is still on the active roster, he’s not expected to be available for the rest of the road trip due to a right hand contusion. The Dodgers called up Ben Rortvedt to be the backup catcher to Dalton Rushing.
Alex Freeland was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City and the Dodgers designated Alexis Díaz for assignment.
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