Steve Webb
Game 116, 8/9/2024: Dodgers 9, Pirates 5
CHAVEZ RAVINE, CA — Nice bounceback after the disappointment from the last two games of the Phillies series. The Dodgers secured a commanding 9-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, fueled by a powerful offensive display and a solid start from Jack Flaherty. The win was highlighted by home runs from Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani, and Enrique Hernández, demonstrating the depth and potency of the Dodgers’ lineup.
Freddie Freeman got the Dodgers on the board early, launching a solo homer in the first inning off Pirates’ starter Mitch Keller. The momentum continued in the third inning when Shohei Ohtani smashed a two-run homer, extending the lead to 3-0. Will Smith then contributed with a two-run single, capping off a five-run inning that put the Dodgers firmly in control.
Jack Flaherty, pitching in front of his mom and making his hometown debut in a Dodger uniform, delivered a solid performance on the mound. He pitched 5.2 innings, allowing four runs on nine hits while striking out ten. It was on the verge of a one-run quality start for Flaherty, but Joey Bart took him deep in the bottom of the fifth to mess with his stat line a bit. Still, other than those two mistakes, it was a pretty decent job of limiting damage, and that makes it two wins in a row for the kid from Burbank.
Enrique Hernández added to the Dodgers’ lead with a two-run homer in the fifth inning, bouncing off the glove of Bryan Reynolds in left and pushing the score to 9-4. The bullpen, led by Anthony Banda, Evan Phillips, and Daniel Hudson, shut down the Pirates’ offense in the late innings, allowing just one additional run and securing the victory.
With this win, the Dodgers improved their record to 67-49, maintaining their lead in the NL West. The combination of strong hitting and solid pitching continues to make the Dodgers a formidable force as they march towards the postseason.
Should be a good one at the stadium on Saturday, as the Dodger fans get their first upclose peek at rookie sensation Paul Skenes, who takes the mound against our own rookie River Ryan. Should be a great matchup of two good-looking young arms. Game time 6:10 PDT.
Have you subscribed to the Bleed Los Podcast YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows & promotions, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
