Dodgers fall short to Pirates in a battle of offenses

The Dodgers found themselves down by four runs on three separate occasions Wednesday. They were able to climb back into the game each time, but ultimately were outpaced on offense, falling 11-9 to the Pirates.

It was a tall task to ask the bullpen to clean up the mess after Caleb Ferguson couldn’t get out of the second inning in his major league debut. The lefty struggled with his command, giving up two hits, three walks and hitting two of the 11 batters he faced, giving way to Daniel Hudson after 1 ²⁄₃ innings.

The backbreaker for Ferguson was a bases-loaded double off the bat of Josh Harrison to give the Pirates a quick 3-0 lead. Ferguson would be charged with four runs when all was said and done.

It was a rough night all the way around for Dodgers pitchers as they walked 10 to go along with 10 hits. The 10 walks tied a season-high from way back on April 2 in an 8-7 loss to Arizona in 15 innings.

Matt Kemp led the failed comeback for the Dodgers, driving in five runs on three hits. A two-run double in the third and a three-run homer in the fifth give Kemp a scorching .353 average on the season, leading every qualified hitter outside of the Red Sox Mookie Betts (.359).

Since April 8, Kemp is hitting .369/.392/.637 with 10 homers and 38 RBIs.

Down 4-0 in the third, Kemp drove in two with a double and Cody Bellinger homered for the second straight night, a two-run shot that tied the game at four apiece. But that wouldn’t last long as the Pirates would reclaim the lead with two runs in the home half of the frame.

Heading to the fifth, the Dodgers were down 8-4 and once again turned to Kemp to light the flame. The 33-year-old launched a three-run bomb to pull the Dodgers within one.

Much like the rest of the night, the Pirates pulled away once again with three runs of their own in the sixth.

The Dodgers had a chance in the ninth with two on and two out, down by two. Kemp would line out to second and Bellinger grounded out to end the game.

Up next

The Dodgers and Pirates will play at 9:35am PT with Dennis Santana (1-0, 12.27) facing off with Jameson Taillon (3-4, 3.97).

Wednesday particulars

Home runs: Matt Kemp (10), Cody Bellinger (10)

WP - Steven Brault (5-1): 2 ¹⁄₃ IP, 3 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts

LP - Daniel Hudson (1-2): 1 ¹⁄₃ IP, 3 hits, 2 runs (0 earned), 1 walk, 1 srikeout

SV- Felipe Vasquez (11): 1 ¹⁄₃ IP, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts