7/3/23- By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on Twitter
Heading out west for a series in Los Angeles, certainly a challenge for any team. Even when the Dodgers are “bad,” they’re still a good team. They still have a top 5 payroll in baseball, a number of starters in the All Star Game, multiple former MVPs and Cy Young winners. And that’s not to talk about their insane drafting and development as they consistently have a strong farm system despite frequently trading away pieces to strengthen the club. Let’s talk about the game.
After both sides went down in order in the first, the Pirates managed to get on the board in the second. Carlos Santana led off with a big double but ended up getting thrown out at home on a ground ball to shortstop by Nick Gonzales. But an infield single by Rodolfo Castro that was misplayed put men on the corners before Jared Triolo singled to right and put the Bucs in the lead.
Unfortunately, the lead wouldn’t hold as – in the bottom of that inning – Max Muncy did this:
Dodgers would add another run in the 2nd off back-to-back doubles by David Peralta and Jason Heyward. They then tacked on a third in the 4th inning when Miguel Vargas was hit by a pitch with two outs and then Miguel Rojas doubled to center, driving in the team’s third run of the night.
In the fifth inning, Keller get into trouble early with singles by Freddie Freeman and Will Smith but struck out Muncy and JD Martinez before another two out rally as Peralta singled to left, scoring Freeman, and Hayward bounced a ball off Santana’s glove at first base for an error and another run on the scoreboard.
Bucs managed to load the bases in the top of the 6th with the rookies leading the way. Henry Davis slapped a single to third that barely stayed fair. Nick Gonzales shot a single up the middle and Jared Triolo walked to load the bases when Austin Hedges hit a sacrifice fly to center, getting one run back for the good guys.
Mitch Keller gave up hard contact but was also missing a good number of bats, with 11 swings-and-misses and 7 strikeouts in 5 innings. He allowed 4 earned runs off 8 hits with a walk and hit by pitch.
Yerry de los Santos pitched two scoreless innings of relief, allowing just 1 hit and striking out 2. Dauri Moreta, who has been struggling lately after a strong start to the season, posted a 1-2-3 inning in the 8th.
News & Notes
- Clayton Kershaw would have been scheduled to start today but was placed on the injured list earlier in the day with reported “left shoulder soreness.” Spot starter Michael Grove was able to provide 4 innings of 1-run ball for the club as a bullpen of Caleb Ferguson, Ryan Brasier, Brusdar Graterol, Daniel Hudson and Evan Phillips managed to hold it down the rest of the game.
- We had a fun, nostalgic moment early in the game as a pair of kids whom Cutch had given his batting gloves after a game in 2015 were able to reunite with their favorite Pirate before the game.
- His 36 pitches in the 2nd inning were the most Keller has thrown in a single inning this season.
- Gonzales had his second straight multi-hit game to push his batting average to .258
- Back at it tomorrow (today?) with Luis Ortiz going for the Bucs. First pitch is set for 9:10PM. Let’s Go Bucs!
Steel City Pirates 