The Dodgers needed offense, and they got it in a big way Tuesday night, with not one but two rallies in a 10-3 win over the Pirates at PNC Park. A three-run home run by Matt Kemp culminated a two-out, four-run rally in the sixth inning, and the Dodgers tacked on five more runs in a wild eighth inning, putting the game away. It was more than enough support for Ted Lilly, who pitched six innings for his third win of the year.
The first two times through the batting order, this was shaping up to be a very normal Dodger game of late. The Dodgers had no runs and four hits, and the game was a scoreless tie with two outs in the top of the sixth inning. Then, the Dodgers staged an improbable rally. Jamey Carroll started with a single, his third hit of the night, and was followed by a perfectly placed bunt single down the third base line by Aaron Miles. Andre Ethier followed with a single up the middle to score Carroll, then Kemp brought them all home with a shot over the center field fence.
It was the fifth time this season the Dodgers have scored four or more runs in an inning, but the first since April 24, when the Dodgers plated five against Carlos Zambrano and the Cubs in the opening frame. In the 13 games since that Wrigley Field affair, coming into tonight, the Dodgers had scored four runs in a game only four times.
Armed with a 4-0 lead, Lilly promptly allowed a home run to Andrew McCutchen and a double in the gap to Jose Tabata to start the bottom of the fifth. Tabata eventually scored on a sacrifice fly, but Lilly got out of the inning without further damage. Lilly allowed just those two runs in his six innings of work, allowing five baserunners while striking out four.
Blake Hawksworth opened the seventh inning in relief of Lilly, but pulled up when trying to cover first on a ground ball. After throwing a few warmup pitches, Hawksworth left the game with two outs with a groin injury, and is considered day-to-day. Matt Guerrier struck out old friend Xavier Paul looking on a beautiful curve to end the inning.
The Dodgers opened the top of the eighth with a 5-2 lead, and loaded the bases with nobody out. After a one-out walk by Jerry Sands to make it 7-2, Guerrier was asked to hit for himself, having thrown only six pitches and given the utter lack of trustworthy options in the bullpen. In just his third career plate appearance, and his first since June 26, 2005, Guerrier drew a walk from Chris Resop.
Guerrier's walk was the third bases-loaded walk by a pitcher this season, joining Clayton Richard of San Diego and Tom Gorzelanny of Chicago, and the first bases loaded free pass to a relief pitcher since Ramon Troncoso last June 15. It was also the first major league RBI for Guerrier.
The Dodgers added two more runs on an Aaron Miles single, giving them a five-run inning to make the score 10-2. The Dodgers have scored four or more runs in an inning six times this season, and tonight was the first time they have done it twice in the same game.
Since the lead was increased to eight runs, Guerrier was removed before throwing a pitch in the eighth inning, saving him for potential use Wednesday or Thursday. Lance Cormier, Mr. Mop-up, pitched the final two innings.
Notes
- The 10 runs scored by the Dodgers tonight were the second most they have scored in a game this year. The Dodgers plated 12 runs on April 22 at Wrigley Field.
- The Dodgers had scored 10 runs in the first four games of their road trip combined before scoring 10 tonight
- Carroll had three hits and a walk, his third three-hit game in the last four contests. Carroll has at least one hit in all five games of this road trip so far, and is 11-for-21 with three walks on the trip.
- Miles added three hits of his own, his third straight game of two hits or more
- All eight starting position players for the Dodgers scored at least one run, the second time this season that has happened. The Dodgers also turned the trick on April 22 against the Cubs.
- Andrew McCutchen hit two home runs tonight for the Pirates
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Hiroki Kuroda faces off with the southpaw Paul Maholm on Wednesday night in the third game of the four-game set.
WP - Ted Lilly (3-3): 6 IP, 4 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts
LP - Kevin Correia (5-3): 6 1/3 IP, 10 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), 2 strikeouts