07/05/23 – By Ethan Smith – @mvp_Ethan on Twitter
The Pittsburgh Pirates and LA Dodgers dealt with fireworks being shot off in the parking all night on July 4, but those weren’t the only fireworks the two teams had in mind.
Pittsburgh and LA combined for 16 runs, 23 hits, six lead changes, 12 different pitchers and a few errors as well, creating the perfect recipe for some fireworks on the field on Independence Day.
The Pirates started hot, loading the bases in the top of the first which gave Nick Gonzales the opportunity for a ground-rule double to give the Pirates an early 2-0 lead. James Outman would homer in the bottom of the first inning, bringing the game within one.
But the offense didn’t stop there. LA would add three in the second off of Luis Ortiz, who would only go 3.1 IP while allowing six earned runs. Things weren’t much better for Dodgers starter Emmet Sheehan, who also left the game early after 3.2 IP and five earned runs allowed.
The fourth inning saw Pittsburgh and LA combine for five runs, bringing the game to a 6-5 Dodgers lead.
Pittsburgh would tie things in the sixth as Henry Davis hit a hard single to score Austin Hedges and load the bases, but the Pirates couldn’t tack on anymore runs.
Then, Jonny Deluca, who was called up to the Dodgers about a month ago, hit his first career homer in the bottom of the eighth with the makings of another close, gut-wrenching loss for Pittsburgh.
Heading to the top of the ninth, the Pirates were tasked with scoring at least one run against Evan Phillips and well, they more than answered the call.
Jack Suwinski and Nick Gonzales would both reach base before Jared Triolo laced one into center field to score Suwinski and tie the game. Following that, Josh Palacios doubled to score both Gonzales and Triolo, and it felt like it all happened so quickly and the Pirates suddenly led by two heading to the bottom of the ninth.
David Bednar, who replaced Clayton Kershaw on the NL All-Star squad, recorded the final five outs and secured the Pirates 40th victory of the season and his third win on the year, moving the Pirates to within five games of .500 and tying the series against the Dodgers.
Osvaldo Bido is tasked with guiding the Pirates to victory tonight against the Dodgers and he’ll face Bobby Miller at Dodger Stadium.
News & Notes
- Nick Gonzales records first three hit outing at MLB level
- Pirates 12 hits and nine runs showcase potential with the offense
- David Bednar picks up final five outs in victory
- Pirates remain 6.5 GB of first-place Cincinnati Reds
Steel City Pirates 