Cody Snavely
Game 64, 6/5/2024: Dodgers 6, Pirates 10
PITTSBURGH, PA — In the world of Hollywood, it is rare for a sequel to be better than the original. Sure, you have your Empire Strikes Back, The Dark Knight, and The Godfather Part Two, but it is still a rare feat to accomplish.
Picture this: the Dodgers, a team known for their explosive offense, were up against a young right-handed pitcher, Jared Jones. But their bats were silent, shut out for the fourth time this season. The challenge was about to get even tougher. They were now facing Paul Skenes, a name that would test their offensive prowess.
The Dodgers, who have struggled all season against high-velocity fastballs, got a rare back-to-back showing off two of the hardest-throwing starting pitchers in the sport. To kick off the game, it was more of the same for the Dodgers’ offense, and Skenes, the 2023 number-one overall pick, made Los Angeles hitters look silly.
To make matters worse in this matchup, veteran left-handed pitcher James Paxton was not sharp at all. After the Dodgers lost one to nothing the night prior, Paxton tried his hardest to put this game out of reach, allowing seven runs (six earned) on six hits while walking two.
The Pirates wasted no time, jumping out to an early seven-run lead. Which with the way the Dodgers offense has been hitting, all the Pirates needed was just one. The lefty could not get out of the second inning, setting the stage for a challenging game for the Dodgers.
However, unlike Jones, Skenes could not shut out the Dodgers, who would kick off their scoring with a Shohei Ohtani two-run blast who correctly guessed fastball after seeing them in his first two at-bats.
Ohtani wasn’t the only hitter to hit one out off of Paul Skenes as Dodgers rookie outfielder Andy Pages joined the party and collected his eleventh hit in the last seven games, a positive after the righty has been going through his first major league slump.
Skenese settled in after that, giving the Buccos a solid five innings, allowing only three runs on six hits while walking one and striking out eight.
The Dodgers bullpen was unable to keep the damage at bay, but the Dodgers could not cash in for the second straight night on a below-average Pirates bullpen, dropping this game and the series.
The Dodgers look to avoid the sweep in Pittsburgh and send right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler to the mound to face off Bailey Falter. First pitch is 3:40 PM PT/6:40 PM ET
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