The Los Angeles Dodgers avoided a Pittsburgh Pirates three-game series sweep with an 11-7 victory last night at PNC Park. A day after the Pirates scored seven runs in the second inning of their 10-6 victory, the Dodgers put together a six-run fifth inning to top the Bucs. Pirates starting pitcher Bailey Falter allowed the first four Dodgers batters to score in the opening inning, but the Pirates battled back to tie the game in the bottom of the third inning. The Pirates added three runs in the eighth inning, but couldn’t pull off a comeback.
The Bucs matched the Dodgers 14 hits in the game, led by Ke’Bryan Hayes who had three hits. Oneil Cruz and Nick Gonzales hit home runs. Cruz hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning that traveled 462 feet.
The loss dropped the Pirates to last place in the National League Central Division. They fell a half-game behind the Cincinnati Reds, who have won five games in a row. The Bucs are 29-33 overall.
The Pirates welcome the Minnesota Twins in for a three-game series beginning tonight at 6:40pm. Pre-game on WISR begins at 6:15pm. Mitch Keller will start for the Bucs. He is 7-3 with a 3.42 ERA this season and is the fifth Major League Baseball pitcher since 2013 to reach at least seven victories by June 1st in back-to-back seasons.
The Bucs and Twins play Saturday at 4:05pm. Pre-game on WISR is 3:40pm.
Sunday – the Pirates host the Twins for a 1:35pm start. Pre-game on WISR is 1:10pm.
The Bucs are off Monday, then begin a six-game road trip in St. Louis Tuesday.