The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-5 as they began Alumni Weekend at Dodger Stadium following a rough series with the Philadelphia Phillies,
Freddie Freeman started the scoring for the Dodgers with a solo home run in the first inning. It was his 17th of the year and first since returning from emergency family leave.
The Dodgers started to pull away in the third inning when Shohei Ohtani blasted his 35th home run of the season, a two-run shot that made it 3-0.
L.A. went on to score three more runs in the inning when Will Smith singled home Teoscar Hernández and Freeman, who reached on a walk and a double, respectively. Miguel Rojas capped off the inning with an RBI-single, giving the Dodgers a six-run lead.
In the fourth inning, Jason Heyward doubled and Teoscar Hernández singled him home. In the fifth, Kiké Hernández smacked a line-drive to the outfield wall, but the ball bounced off Bryan Reynolds’ glove and into the seats for a two-run homer, making it a nine-run night for the Dodgers.
Jack Flaherty made his first start at home with the Dodgers, giving them 5.2 innings while allowing four runs on nine hits, striking out 10 and walking one. His main mistakes were giving up two home runs, one of which was of the solo variety to Oneil Cruz in the fourth inning.
The other came in the fifth when Joey Bart blasted a three-run homer after singles from Isiah Kine-Falefa and Reynolds. That cut the Dodgers’ lead to 7-4 until they added on in the next inning on Hernández’s homer.
Flaherty’s 10 strikeouts tonight tied his second-highest total this season. He also had 10 on April 19, and a season-high 14 against the Cardinals on April 30.
Anthony Banda recorded the final out in the sixth while also working a scoreless seventh. Evan Phillips and Daniel Hudson pitched the final two innings.
Hudson ended up allowing an RBI single to Cruz.
Dodgers induct Dusty Baker into Legends of Dodger Baseball
Prior to the game, the Dodgers made Dusty Baker the eighth member of their Legends of Dodger Baseball. An on-field ceremony was held with Baker’s family and former teammates, and he was presented with a Dodger Blue blazer.
Dodgers broadcaster Joe Davis emceed the event, and manager Dave Roberts and Reggie Smith delivered speeches. The festivities coincided with a Dusty Baker Legends of Dodger Baseball bobblehead giveaway.
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