The Dodgers are now in the midst of a six-game winning streak, as they shut out the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 on Sunday to complete the three-game sweep.
Shohei Ohtani worked an 11-pitch leadoff walk to begin the game against right-handed reliever Lake Bachar, the longest plate appearance for him this season. Freddie Freeman put runners on the corners with nobody out, and although Mookie Betts grounded into a double play, Ohtani scored to give the Dodgers an early 1-0 lead.
The Dodgers were left silent
until the bottom of the fourth inning against Carmen Mlodzinski, as Tommy Edman was plunked before Kyle Tucker singled to put two men on with one out. After Teoscar Hernández struck out looking (and wasted their final ABS challenge), Alek Thomas came through with an RBI single to knock home Edman, giving him two consecutive games with an RBI single in the fourth inning. Hunter Feduccia continued the rally with an RBI single to bring home Tucker and give the Dodgers a three-run lead. The Dodgers added another run in the fifth inning on an RBI groundout from Max Muncy.
Getting just one run was enough for Blake Snell, as he was nearly unhittable after escaping a first-inning jam. Snell allowed a one-out single to Spencer Horwitz in the top of the second, but that was the only hit that the Pirates could muster against the left-hander the rest of the way. The command late in innings became a recurring issue, as Snell gave up a two-out walk in three consecutive innings, but his final inning saw him retire the side in order with a pair of strikeouts.
Snell has dominated in his three starts back from injury, logging a quality start in each. Snell’s scoreless start on Sunday was the first time he didn’t allow a run in the regular season since his 12-strikeout gem against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sept. 17 last year. Snell’s ERA now sits at just 1.00 over his last 18 innings, striking out 21 and walking seven.
Both offenses struggled to produce much of anything over the final four innings of Sunday’s contest, as the Dodgers had just one baserunner with a Tommy Edman walk in the bottom of the eighth while Pittsburgh went 0-13 with one baserunner over their final 4 1/3 innings at the plate.
The Dodgers have taken the season series from the Pirates 5-1, their best record against them in a season since taking all six contests against them in 2021. Sunday’s 4-0 final score was their first shutout win of the second half and their first since shutting out the San Diego Padres 3-0 on July 4.
Game particulars
- WP— Blake Snell (2-1): 6 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 3 walks, 6 strikeouts
- LP— Lake Bachar (1-3): 2 IP, 1 hit, 1 earned run, 3 walks, 1 strikeout
- SV— Alex Vesia (4): 1 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
Up next
The Dodgers begin a six-game road trip after an off day on Monday, with a three-game set against the Atlanta Braves on starting Tuesday (4:15 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA). Tyler Glasnow makes his first start since May 6, while Atlanta has yet to announce their starter.
