The Pirates wasted no time, erupting for four runs in the opening inning against Clayton Kershaw. A combination of timely hits and a pair of walks set the table, and Pittsburgh never looked back as they knocked Kershaw out after five innings. He surrendered four runs on four hits and two walks in the first inning, but settled down to complete five frames.
Los Angeles battled back in the middle innings. Shohei Ohtani launched a solo shot off rookie Bubba Chandler for his 46th homer of the year, and Teoscar Hernández followed with a two-out RBI single in the third. Andy Pages then led off the fourth with his 24th homer, knotting the game at four apiece and stalling Pittsburgh’s momentum.
The Pirates reclaimed control in the sixth. Henry Davis delivered an RBI single against Edgardo Henríquez to restore the lead, and Jared Triolo ripped a two-run double moments later, chasing the Dodgers’ reliever and giving Pittsburgh a 7-4 advantage after six innings.
Pittsburgh added insurance down the stretch. Oneil Cruz’s groundout plated Tommy Pham in the seventh, and in the eighth Triolo drew a walk, swiped second and later scored on Nick Gonzales’s soft liner into center. Dennis Santana closed out the ninth, fending off a late rally by walking Miguel Rojas before getting the next three batters to capture his 12th save of the season.
On Wednesday, the rubber game features an intriguing pitching duel: the Dodgers will hand the ball to Ohtani (1-1, 4.18 ERA), while the Pirates counter with Braxton Ashcraft (4-2, 2.58 ERA) in a 6:40 p.m. first pitch at PNC Park