Backed by Pirates' 7-run 2nd, Paul Skenes handles Dodgers

Field Level Media|published: Wed 5th June, 21:47 2024

Jun 5, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Nick Gonzales (39) celebrates with second baseman Jared Triolo (19) after Gonzales scored a run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Nick Gonzales ripped a two-run double to ignite a seven-run second inning, fueling the host Pittsburgh Pirates to a 10-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.

Gonzales also had a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning and an RBI single in the seventh. His four RBIs matched a career high and gave him 20 in 23 games since being recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on May 10.

Bryan Reynolds slapped a two-run single and Yasmani Grandal, Edward Olivares and Ke'Bryan Hayes each had an RBI single for the Pirates, who recorded a 1-0 win in the series opener on Tuesday.

The offense on Wednesday was more than enough for rookie Paul Skenes (3-0). The hard-throwing right-hander overcame a two-run homer by Shohei Ohtani and a solo shot from rookie Andy Pages to allow just those three runs on six hits while striking out eight and walking one in five innings.

Jason Heyward had three hits and scored twice for the Dodgers. Will Smith and Gavin Lux each had an RBI single.

Gonzales opened the scoring against James Paxton (5-1) in the second inning as his broken-bat double down the left field line plated a pair of runs. Grandal, who scored Gonzales with an RBI single, joined Jared Triolo in coming home on Reynolds' bases-loaded single to center field to give Pittsburgh a 5-0 lead.

Olivares' RBI single sent Paxton to the showers and Reynolds scored on a passed ball by Smith to cap the seven-run inning.

Ohtani trimmed the deficit in the third by depositing a 3-2 fastball from Skenes over the wall in center field for his team-leading 15th homer of the season. Pages led off the fifth with his sixth homer of the campaign, but Skenes escaped a bases-loaded jam to end the inning.

The Dodgers plated one run in both the sixth and seventh innings to shave Pittsburgh's lead to 8-5 before Hayes and Gonzales each tacked on an RBI single in the seventh.

Paxton permitted seven runs (six earned) on six hits in 1 2/3 innings to sustain his first loss since Sept. 1.

--Field Level Media

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