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The magic number is now 8. The Dodgers beat one of the strongest teams in the National League, on the arms of pitcher Zach Grienke, and sluggers Corey Seager and Adrian Gonzales.
“We just needed to win tonight, and we did,” said Dodger Manager Don Mattingly, never one to get too high or too low in victory or in defeat. “Corey was great for us, and that double by Adrian was huge.”
It was the Dodgers first win in six games against the Pirates, bringing them to 24 games above .500. It was the Pirates fourth loss in a row.
Grienke held the strong-hitting Pirates to three hits, mindful that the Bucs had swept them not too long ago in Pittsburgh. Seager hit the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the fourth in to the right field bleachers.to bring home Ellis and increase the Dodgers’ then 2-1 lead, to 4-1.
Greinke was thoughtful after the game, merely agreeing as reporters raved about his performances this season.
Greinke’s always good,” agreed Mattingly, “and Dodger Stadium is a pitchers’ park.”
Gonzales hit a deep two run double in the bottom of the seventh to add some sufficient cushion to the lead.
Neil Walker homered in the fourth to add just a little to the Pirates’ scoring himself.
Meanwhile, Justin Ruggiano went 2 for 3 with a stolen base and an RBI single in the second, hitting safely for the ninth time in ten games.
“I think we can all feel the vibe here,” said Seager,” It’s feeling good.
The Dodgers face the Pirates again tomorrow and Sunday, before a three-game home stand against Arizona. They then travel to San Francisco to face the Giants one more time.
Hurry October.
Post-game interview with Mattingly Grienke and Seager:
Here’s how we previewed and covered the game tonight:
Zach Grienke leads the Dodgers against the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight in the first game of a three-game series. The Dodgers continue a 10-game homestand (2-1), with the first of three against the Bucs.
Los Angeles has won 17 of its last 22 games dating to Aug. 25, with its 17-5 mark the best in the Majors. The Doyers lead the Gigantes by 7.5 games in the National League West and maintain a 1.5-game lead over the New York Mets for the No. 2 seed in the National League.
Next week, the Dodgers close out this long home stand with four games against the Arizona Diamondbacks. And no, this is NOT the Dodgers’ last Friday home game. Whew.
The Dodgers are currrently at a season-high tying 23 games above .500. (83-60, Sept. 14), and have gone 49-22 (.690) at home this year with a 17-3-3 series record. The club is on pace for its best home winning percentage in Los Angeles history and its fifth-best home mark in franchise history:
It’s 81 degrees American at game time.
FIRST INNING
Top
Gregory Polanco sends the first pitch into the third base stands, and then drops one into short center for well, an out.
Gregory Polanco sends the first pitch into the third base stands, and then drops one into short center for, well, an out.
The guy with the cool soul singer name, Starling Marte, gets thrown out at first.
Andrew McCutcheon doubles deep to the left corner.
Aramis Ramirez, (no relation) goes to 1-1, then 1-2 on a high foul into the first base seats. Its 2-2, with two of those out things. Its 3-2, with two of those out things. And then he walks.
Neil Walker grounds out to first, and that particular threat has been squelched.
Pirates 0, Dodgers coming up.
Bottom
Justin Ruggiano singles up the middle.
Chase Utley is hit by a pitch. Runners on first and second.
Justin Turner swings past his whiskers, and gets to 2-1, make that 2-2. and then he is so stricken out.
It’s a double steal! The throw gets past Chris Stewart and Ruggiano scampers home. Utley is at third.
Adrian Gonzales goes to 2-2, as Utley does a little dance over there at third. He grounds out to first and Utley stays all put and whatnot.
A.J. Ellis looks at 3-0, then looks at 3-1. Then he does The Walk to first.
Corey Seager grounds out to first.
Dodgers 1, Pirates 0.
SECOND INNING
Top
Pedro Alvarez hits a hard shot to Chris Helsey in center, who handles it like it ain’t even a thing.
Jordy Mercer is shot down at first.
Chris Stewart singles to short center.
Jeff Locke grounds to first to end the inning.
Dodgers 1, Pirates 0.
Bottom
Corey Seager grounds to first.
Chris Helsey hits a long single to center.
Joc Pederson sacrifices and Helsey goes to second.
Ruggiano hits one to left, Helsey heads home on a wide throw , and Ruggiano gets tagged out trying to reach second.
<em>Dodgers 2, Pirates 0</em>
THIRD INNING
Top
Polanco flies out to center.
Marte (no relation) grounds out to first.
McCutcheon grounds out to first.
<em>Dodgers 2, Pirates 0</em>
<strong>Bottom</strong>
Utley sends his bat to short right field and a fly out to short center field.
Turner strikes a pose, but the ball dribbles toward the backstop. Then he grounds out to first.
Gonzales is way out at first. The Dodgers go all quietly, as is said. Sssh.
<em>Dodgers 2, Pirates 0</em>
FOURTH INNING
Top
Ramirez gets to 1-2 a few times, actually, and then flies out to right.
Walker hits the first pitch out of here for a solo homer.
Alvarez grounds out to first.
(Both teams are leaning against the dugout railings in rapt attention.)
Jordy Mercer ends the drama for now, grounding out to first.
Bottom
AJ Ellis gets to a full count, then sneaks one past Mercer, for a single.
Seager hits the first pitch in to the right field bleachers. Ellis comes home, lights come on, people cheer and pretty girls dance.
Helsey goes to 3-1, then gets a nice little walk.
The Pirates have a little chat show on the mound.
Helsey gets snagged trying to steal, after showing some serious juking action.
Joc Pederson is at 2-2, and the first “Wave” of the evening has begun. Organized well enough, but not very loud. Pederson strikes out. The Wave improves.
Grienke singles. Someone from Univision accidentally claps in the press booth. (Be cool, girl!)
Ruggiano gets to 2-0, with a little chin music. He goes to 2-2, just like that, per se.
He flies out to short right.
FIFTH INNING
Top
Stewart is so out.
Jeff Locke strikes out. He’s a pitcher.
Polanco goes to 1-2, then gets gone at first.
<strong>Bottom</strong>
Chase Utley (Banking, Insurance or real estate? Could be any of those…) Grounds out to first. Could have used an annuity.
Turner hits one straight up the middle, where there are apparently no Pirates.
Gonzales flies out.
A.J. Ellis is looking down the barrel of a 1-2 count, and then Gonzales gets caught stealing (!).
<em>Dodgers 4, Pirates 1.</em>
SIXTH INNING
Top
Marte is caught singing at first.
McCutcheon is stricken.
Aramis Ramirez flies out. Smells terrific.
Dodgers 4, Pirates 1
BOTTOM
AJ Ellis strikes out, lets leave it at that, shall we?
Seager is out at first.
Heisey (not “Helsey”, sorry) is at 2-1, strikes out.
Dodgers 4, Pirates 1
SEVENTH INNING
Top
Walker flies WAY out.
Alvarez is out at first.
Mercer flies out to center.
Bottom
Pederson flies all the way out to right.
Greinke doubles to deep center field. He is the most surprised guy in the place. Locke is SO not amused.
Another chat show on the mound, this time with a larger cast.
Arquimedes Caminero (that is one excellent name) is in to pitch for the Pirates.
Andre Ethier gets to 2-0, and then 2-1, then 3-1, then la la la, over to first base.
It’s “Kashmir” by Les Zeppelin. That means Chase Utley.
Arquimedes Caminero (that is one excellent name) is in to pitch for the Pirates.
Andre Ethier gets caught at second on a single from Utley.
Turner draws a walk, not literally.
The bases are now loaded. Literally.
Gonzales doubles deep to center field, bringing home Grienke and that other guy.
AJ Ellis, tough but very rarely a hero (he typed, cautiously), is at 2-2, and grounds out to first.
<em>Dodgers 6, Pirates 1</em>
EIGHTH INNING
TOP
Michael Morse gets a walk. Here comes Mattingly to the mound. There goes Grienke.
Luis Avilan in to pitch for the Doyers.
Polanco is down 0-2, now 2-2….strike out.
Marte singles, and brings home Morse, who was out there this whole time.
McCutcheon is at 1-1-1, so to speak. Make that 2-1-1. So to speak. He flies out to ellis, so to speak.
Ramirez is so out at first.
<em>Dodgers 6, Pirates 2.</em>
BOTTOM
Bobby Laframboise (no relation) is in to pitch for Pittsburgh.
BOTTOM
Seager gets to 1-1, swings big, gets air, then does that again.
Heisey gets shot down at first.
Joc Pederson is 2-2 with 2 down, and that swing makes three.
NINTH INNING
Kenley Jansen in to pitch for the Doyers.
Alvarez grounds out to first.
Travis Snider, pinch-hitting, is at 0-2, then 1-2, then hits a high foul, that Turner snags.
Travis Ishikawa (no relation) is now pinch-hitting, and takes a ball, then flies out. This game is over.
Dodgers 6, Pirates 2 FINAL
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