Dodgers complete sweep against the Pirates

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers won 6-4 to sweep the Pirates to enjoy their Fourth of July at Dodger Stadium. This was the second straight season the Dodgers swept their home three-game series against the Pirates.

The win made it four straight and concluded the ten-game home stand on a good note.

Kenley Jansen came in the top of the eighth and he was able to record his second five-out save of the year, with the first also coming against the Pirates in early June.

Rich Hill looked to continue his success from his last game against the Rockies against the Pirates and Clay Holmes. Holmes was making his first major-league start for the Pirates. This was his third career appearance.

Holmes was shaky in the first, he walked both Joc Pederson and Max Muncy to start the first inning. It looked like he might escape as he then got two outs without yielding a run.

But then Yasmani Grandal singled to left to score Muncy from second and give the Dodgers a one-run lead. They would eventually load the bases as they received three walks in the first inning but they left them stranded when Kiké Hernández struck out looking.

Both teams exchanged crooked numbers in the third inning. The Pirates scored two runs with two outs when Starling Marté doubled home both runs. Hill struck out Gregory Polanco to end the inning.

Muncy singled to start the bottom of the third. After Justin Turner flew out, Cody Bellinger lined a double to right-center. Grandal followed with a ground ball double down the right-field line to drive in both runners.

A wild pitch moved Grandal to third. Chris Taylor lined a single to left to score Grandal and give the Dodgers a 4-2 lead.

Richard Rodríguez then came in for Holmes and was able to retire both Hernández and Yasiel Puig to end the inning.

Holmes pitched 2⅓ innings, giving up four runs and five hits, while striking out two and walking three.

Hill had a little trouble in the fifth as two Pirates got singles to put the tying runs on base. Hill recovered to get out of the inning without giving up a run.

Turner led off the bottom of the fifth against Tyler Glasnow. Glasnow hit Turner in the shoulder that gave the crowd quite a scare. Turner then went to second on a balk. Both Bellinger and Grandal walked to load the bases. Taylor had his second scoring hit to drive in two and knock out Glasnow. The Dodgers would do no more scoring in that inning.

Hill finished pitching five innings. He allowed two runs and five hits. Hill struck out five and walked one. Daniel Hudson, who began warming up in the fifth inning, came in for Hill to start the sixth.

Hudson got the first out and then Elias Díaz singled. After that, first base umpire Jeff Nelson said or gestured something to Hudson. Hudson took exception and was ejected by Nelson.

Scott Alexander came in and immediately got a double play. Alexander would also pitch a scoreless seventh inning. Edward Parades got the first out but then Marté singled and Polanco homered to make it 6-4.

However that ended all the scoring and the Dodgers finished up with their sweep of the Pirates.

Hill’s wild run around the bases

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Hill led off with bunt single. He then moved to second on a wild pitch and one out later, went to third on another wild pitch.

Muncy hit a slightly less than regular fly ball center and Marté picked up his six assist throwing out the head-first sliding Hill at home plate.

“There was a lot of running,” manager Dave Roberts said after the game, “we got to work on that feet first slide, I was surprised by the tag [up by Hill], we called expecting a to slide feet first, he goes in head first and obviously he comes out of the game with some sort of neck tightness, so I am sure that is a byproduct of the slide.”

“Just talked to him after the game,” Roberts said, “he said he is going to be fine, we’ll wait and see, it is day-to-day.”

The one thing Hill got out of his escapade was needed time spent practicing sliding feet first.

“Besides the slide at home, I thought everything was okay,” said Hill, “so I need to learn how slide feet first.” “I am definitely going out there and working on it,” said Hill, “I am going to grab somebody to teach me how to slide feet first.”

Hill was asked if his sliding head first was instinctive, “it just makes sense,” Hill said with a smile, “not anymore.”

Hudson was violating a rule

“[Nelson] wanted Daniel to have his hand available for the runner to see or away from his body,” Roberts said, “I don’t know really know the exact specifics of the rule all I know in that talking to Bob [Geren], my bench coach, [Nelson] had it right.”

“There were some things, a kind of exchange, I didn’t think it would get to the point where he would get tossed, I know Daniel will take ownership of that.”

The Dodgers did raise to Nelson that Hudson holds the ball that way all the time. “The rule as it states is the rule,” Roberts said, “knowing that [Nelson] interpreted it correctly.”

Up Next

The Dodgers begin the first of two straight weekend series against the Los Angeles Angels. The Dodgers will be visiting Angel Stadium first and this Friday’s game could be special.

The Angels activated Shohei Ohtaini this week from the disabled list and he could be in their lineup on Friday at designated hitter.

That would mean the first matchup between Dodger right-hander Kenta Maeda and Ohtani in the regular season.

As of this writing, the Angels have not announced their rotation as their planned Friday starter is pitching tomorrow due to Tyler Skaggs being placed on the 10-day disabled list today.

First pitch on Friday is scheduled at 7:07 p.m. and the game will also be available this Friday on Fox Sports West with the Angels broadcasters on the mike.

On Saturday, the game will be on Fox and Sunday’s game is the ESPN Sunday Night game.

Wednesday particulars

Home run: Gregory Polanco (12)

WP - Rich Hill (2-3): 5 IP, 2 runs, 4 hits, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts

LP - Clay Holmes (0-1): 2⅓ IP, 4 runs, 5 hits, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts

SV - Kenley Jansen (23): 1⅔ IP, 2 hits, 2 strikeouts