Turner’s Homers, Clutch Relief is enough for a squeaker win against the Pirates

PITTSBURGH – You come at the King, you best not miss. The Pirates squandered two bases-loaded opportunities in the first two innings and came away with only one run. On the other hand, the Dodgers got a pair of solo home runs from a suddenly hot Justin Turner. And that, coupled with a lot of great relief pitching, was the difference in their 2-1 over the Pirates on Wednesday night.

This second game of the series at PNC Park was delayed for over an hour by rain, but the Dodgers got right to work once the game finally got underway. Bucs starter Tyler Anderson got two quick outs, but couldn’t have been happy to see Justin Turner hitting in the three-hole tonight. In over 30 at-bats against Anderson, Turner was hitting nearly .500. Things didn’t get any better for Anderson on Wednesday night. On a 1-1 pitch, Turner stroked a four-seamer deep to center, and deposited the ball into the Dodgers bullpen for a quick 1-0 lead.

Gonsolin struggles in first 2021 start

This wasn’t supposed to be a bullpen game for the Dodgers pitching staff. It was supposed to be the comeback start for Tony Gonsolin, coming off the IL for the first time this season. Manager Dave Roberts was hoping to get four innings out of his reactivated starter.

Alas, it was not to be. Gonsolin was living on the knife’s edge for his entire 1.2 innings of work. In the first inning, he was in immediate trouble. After a lead-off single and a walk, Gonsolin faced Jorge Polanco with two outs. Polanco ripped a line drive off the big mitt of Albert Pujols at first, and the ball skittered into right field. It was picked up by Chris Taylor, who delivered a strike to home as Bryan Reynolds rounded third and headed for the plate. It looked like the ball beat Reynolds, but catcher Will Smith was a little tentative with his tag, and Reynolds was able to slide home safely.

Another walk loaded up the bases, but Gonsolin was able to strike out Michael Perez to wriggle out of the jam. More trouble in the second inning as Gonsolin walked three straight after opening the inning with two straight strikeouts. With the bases loaded for the second straight inning, Dave Roberts had seen enough. Sensing the game might be hanging in the balance early, he called on one of his high-leverage guys, Victor Gonzalez, to bail Gonsolin out. He did just that. He got clean-up hitter Colin Moran to fly out to AJ Pollock to end the inning.

Turner goes deep a second time

The Dodgers scored again in the third, in an inning that was a virtual carbon copy of the first. Two quick outs from Betts and Taylor, and then guess who? Justin Turner, of course. And guess what? Another home run. This one was pulled down the left field line and was practically brought back onto the field of play by a leaping Ka’ai Tom. But after Tom gloved the ball it whipped out of his mitt and landed into the seats. Justin Turner 2, Pirates 1.

Bullpen puts together 7.1 scoreless innings

And there the score stayed for the rest of the night. The Dodgers bullpen was spectacular. After, Gonzalez pitched 1.1 innings, David Price gave Dave Roberts two scoreless innings. Joe Kelly put up a zero in the sixth, and then Roberts went to his clutch duo of Treinen and Jansen to close it out. They did not disappoint. Treinen held the Bucs hitless in a 1.2 inning stint, and then Kenley Jansen came on for the final out in the eighth. He blew away Michael Perez on three pitches, and it was onto the ninth.

Jansen survives ninth (literally)

After a quiet ninth from the Dodgers, Jansen came back in the game to close it out. And of course, it wouldn’t be a Kenley Jansen appearance without a leadoff walk. He lost Ka’ai Tom after a 3-2 battle, and suddenly the go-ahead run was at the plate. Jansen responded with two quick outs: a liner to center, and a bouncing ball to Justin Turner. Which brought up the Pirates young phenom Ke’Bryan Hayes.

Like Tom, Hayes hooked up with Jansen in a long battle. On the eighth pitch of the AB, he smoked a ball right back at Jansen. More out of self-defense than anything else, Jansen whipped his glove up and snagged the liner, sending him tumbling off the mound. He landed flat on his back, with the ball in his glove, and the save in his pocket.

YouTube game tomorrow morning

With a series victory secure, the Dodgers wrap up the road trip with a VERY early YouTube game on Thursday, with a 9:30 am PDT start. Julio Urias gets the ball for the visitors versus righthander Mitch Keller for the Pirates. Then it’s back home for a weekend series against the scuffling Texas Rangers.