Dee Gordon sets new career high in steals, ties Maury Wills' May record

Dee Gordon was 1-for-3 with a walk and two stolen bases in Friday night's loss to the Pirates, but in defeat the Dodgers second baseman set a new career high in stolen bases in a season with 34.

Gordon started the first inning off with a walk, then immediately stole second base against Francisco Liriano. But he was stranded at second base.

He reached on a fielders choice with two outs in the third inning, but did not attempt to steal.

In the fifth inning Gordon reached on an infield single, putting runners at the corners with two outs. He stole second base without a throw.

It was the second consecutive multi-steal game for Gordon, who has nine multi-steal games on the season. He has been successful in his last 15 stolen base attempts and is 34-of-37 in steal tries in 2014. Gordon is on pace to steal 98 bases this season.

Gordon's 21 steals this month match Maury Wills' 1965 for the most steals by a Dodger in May, dating back to 1914.

Gordon remains ahead of Wills' record-setting pace in 1962 when the former Dodgers shortstop stole 104 bases. Gordon is even nearing the great start by Wills in 1965, when he ended with 94 steals.

Here's Gordon vs. Wills through 56 team games:

Wills in the Dodgers' 57th game in 1965 was 2-for-4 with a double, but was picked off first base trying to steal by 44-year-old Hall of Famer Warren Spahn, then with the Mets in his final season.

Up next

The Dodgers try to stop the bleeding with a late afternoon start on Saturday (4:15 p.m. PT), with Hyun-jin Ryu starting against Brandon Cumpton for Pittsburgh, in a game people in Los Angeles can actually watch, on Fox. Gordon has never faced Cumpton, who in nine major league starts and 49⅓ innings has allowed only one of three attempted runners to steal a base successfully.