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Tim Federowicz got his first major league hit, but Ross Ohlendorf stole the show Thursday night at Dodger Stadium. Ohlendorf not only pitched seven innings (throwing just 72 pitches), but also hit a three-run home run in the second inning off Dana Eveland, leading the Pirates to a 6-2 win in the opener of a four-game weekend series.
The Dodgers were eliminated from the National League West with Thursday's loss.
The home run by Ohlendorf was the fourth allowed by the Dodgers to an opposing pitcher this season. Only the Astros, with five, have allowed more home runs to pitchers this season. This is most allowed by the Dodgers since giving up five in 2005:
- Tonight: Ohlendorf off Eveland, three-run shot, Pirates won 6-2
- August 9, 2011: Cliff Lee took Hiroki Kuroda deep, solo shot, Phillies won 2-1
- July 22, 2011: John Lannan off Kuroda, two-run shot, Nationals won 7-2
- July 17, 2011: Daniel Hudson off Ted Lilly in Phoenix, solo shot, Diamondbacks won 4-1
- June 17, 2010: Bronson Arroyo off John Ely in Cincinnati, three-run shot, Reds won 7-1
- June 21, 2008: CC Sabathia off Chan Ho Park, a solo shot to the back of the visitors' bullpen, Indians won 7-2
- July 26, 2006: Jake Peavy off Brad Penny, a two-run shot, Padres won 10-3
- July 8, 2006: Noah Lowry off Derek Lowe, a solo shot, Giants won 11-7
- July 26, 2005: Eric Milton off Odalis Perez, a solo shot, Dodgers beat the Reds 7-4
- June 8, 2005: Jason Johnson off Jeff Weaver, one of only two hits allowed by Weaver, Dodgers beat the Tigers 3-1
- May 28, 2005: Javier Vazquez off Duaner Sanchez, a solo shot, Diamondbacks won 5-4
- May 24, 2005: Jason Schmidt off Weaver, a solo shot, Giants won 5-3
- May 8, 2005: Milton off Weaver, a solo shot, Dodgers beat the Reds 9-3
That's right, Eric Milton hit two home runs off the Dodgers in 2005, and yet the Dodgers won both contests. Jeff Weaver allowed three home runs to pitchers in 2005, and he won two of the three games.
As for tonight, Federowicz made his first major league start, and not only did he rope a line drive single into center field in the fifth inning for his first major league hit, but also collected his first hit-by-pitch (in the second inning, by Ohlendorf), his first runner thrown out trying to steal (Andrew McCutchen, at second base in the fifth), his first passed ball (in the eighth inning), and his first walk (in the ninth, off Evan Meek).
Eveland's first Dodger Stadium start didn't go nearly as well as his first two outings, both on the road, but that wasn't expected to continue. Eveland settled to last five innings, and didn't give up a run outside of the four-run second inning.
Russ Mitchell came into tonight with only 19 of his career 84 plate appearances coming at Dodger Stadium. Mitchell, who started at third base tonight, one of five rookies in the Dodgers lineup, hit a solo home run in the fifth inning. Mitchell now has three hits in 21 home at-bats as a Dodger, and two of those three hits are home runs.
Eugenio Velez was called out on strikes as a pinch hitter in the fifth inning, making him 0-for-32 this season, and 0-for-41 dating back to last season, just four at-bats shy of matching the record for futility by a position player.
The Pirates tacked on two runs in the eighth inning off Matt Guerrier.
The Dodgers loaded the bases off Meek with two outs in the ninth inning, bringing the tying run to the plate, but Joel Hanrahan came in to retire Aaron Miles for the final out.
Hiroki Kuroda, who had an MRI on Wednesday that revealed no damage to his neck, per Tony Jackson of ESPN LA, will start Friday night. Jeff Locke starts for the Pirates.
In some good news, Clayton Kershaw will apparently not be suspended for hitting Gerardo Parra on Wednesday, reported Bill Shaikin of the LA Times.
WP - Ross Ohlendorf (1-2): 7 IP, 4 hits, 2 runs, 6 strikeouts
LP - Dana Eveland (2-1): 5 IP, 8 hits, 4 runs, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts
Sv - Joel Hanrahan (38): 1 batter, 1 out