PITTSBURGH — The Dodgers’ pleasure cruise through the NL Central was interrupted by Pirates.
Shut out for six innings and down 3-0 on Wednesday afternoon, the Dodgers rallied to tie the game only to lose 5-3 when the Pittsburgh Pirates broke through against the Dodgers’ bullpen.
By taking two of three at PNC Park, the Pirates won a series against the Dodgers for the first time since August 2016. The Dodgers had won 23 of 25 meetings (including 16 in a row) with the Pirates before this series.
The Dodgers thought they had found a soft landing spot for prospect Ryan Pepiot, starting him against the perpetually-rebuilding Pirates in front of friends and family during a weekday day game.
But Pepiot’s big-league debut was no walk in the park – it was five walks in the park in three innings plus a hit batter and a wild pitch.
Somehow Pepiot’s command issues didn’t hurt him. He allowed just one hit and got through three scoreless innings. It took 77 pitches, though, and Dave Roberts went to the bullpen early.
Evan Phillips and Alex Vesia kept the game scoreless through five innings. But Tommy Kahnle – pitching for the first time in a week – gave up three runs in the bottom of the sixth, serving up home runs to Jack Suwinski and Josh VanMeter.
Held to four hits through the first six innings, the Dodgers loaded the bases in the seventh without one. Two walks and an error by VanMeter set up Edwin Rios to be a hero and he tied the game with a three-run double, his fifth hit in nine at-bats during the series in Pittsburgh (including two home runs),
Two more walks reloaded the bases for Will Smith with one out. But his 107.2-mph line drive was snagged by Pirates shortstop Diego Castillo and Max Muncy took a called third strike to end the inning.
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The Dodgers scored 15 runs in the three-game series – but 11 of them in their lone victory Tuesday. In the two losses, the Dodgers went 9 for 63 (.143).
Their bullpen also let them down. Hudson served up the go-ahead solo home run to Daniel Vogelbach in the seventh, one of four home runs surrendered by Dodgers relievers in the series. The Pirates added a run in the eighth against Brusdar Graterol and scored nine runs in 11 innings against the Dodgers’ bullpen.