Steve Webb
Game 118, 8/11/2024: Dodgers 6, Pirates 5 (10)
CHAVEZ RAVINE, CA — The Los Angeles Dodgers showed tremendous resilience in their thrilling 6-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 10-inning showdown at Dodger Stadium. Despite letting a four-run lead slip away, the Dodgers managed to regroup and pull off a crucial win, keeping them firmly atop the NL West standings.
The Dodgers jumped out to an early lead, scoring two runs in the first inning thanks to a ground-rule double by Freddie Freeman and an RBI double by Will Smith. Amed Rosario continued the momentum, driving in Smith with a sharp single to left field, putting the Dodgers up 2-0. Teoscar Hernández added to the lead with a two-run double in the second inning, making it 4-0. The Dodgers seemed in control, but the Pirates refused to go down quietly.
Andrew McCutchen brought the Pirates back into the game in the third inning with a two-run homer off Tyler Glasnow. The Dodgers maintained their 4-2 lead through the middle innings, with Glasnow settling down after the early hiccup. The homer was all that the Pirates would get off the Dodgers’ starter, as Glasnow exited the game with a solid line: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K.
However, the Pirates continued to threaten, and McCutchen struck again in the eighth inning with another two-run homer, this time off Anthony Banda, tying the game at 4-4.
The Dodgers’ bullpen, which had been solid for most of the game, found themselves in a precarious position after McCutchen’s second homer. With the momentum shifting in the Pirates’ favor, it looked like the game might slip away from the Dodgers. But the team dug deep, showing the resilience that has defined their season.
In the bottom of the eighth, Andy Pages provided a spark with a sharp double to left field, putting the Dodgers in a position to retake the lead. However, a pop-out bunt attempt by pinch-hitter Nick Ahmed and a strikeout by Hernández left the Dodgers unable to capitalize, sending the game into the ninth inning still tied.
Joe Kelly came in to pitch the ninth and delivered a clutch performance, striking out Ke’Bryan Hayes and Ji Hwan Bae before getting Michael A. Taylor to ground out, keeping the score knotted at 4-4. The Dodgers had one more chance to win it in the bottom of the ninth, but they were unable to push a run across, sending the game into extra innings.
In the top of the 10th, Evan Phillips took the mound for the Dodgers and found himself in a tight spot right away with the gifted runner. Bryan Reynolds dooked a little single into left to break the tie, but Phillips would regroup, and he would get the Dodgers back to the bat rack needing just one run to tie.
The tenth began with a bang off reliever David Bednar. Kike Hernandez drilled a double into the left field corner to immediately tie up the game again. However, the rally seemed to stall after that. Andy Pages worked a meaningless walk, but Bednar struck out Jason Heyward and induced a weak foul pop from Shohei Ohtani to give the Dodgers just one out to work with. But the Dodgers’ Mr. Clutch was headed for the plate. Teoscar Hernandez dug in as Bednar’s pitch count was getting well beyond his limits.
Teo watched a heater go by for strike one. Then, he fouled off another for strike two. Now in an 0-2 hole, Hernandez needed to just get the ball in play. He got a four-seamer from Bednar at the top of the zone and just managed to rip it to the opposite field for a base hit. Kike came around to score and it was game over. Sweep!
This win showcased the Dodgers’ ability to overcome adversity, as they battled through a challenging game where they nearly let their lead slip away. It was a reminder of the resilience and depth that has been the hallmark of their season. The victory also highlighted the importance of every player contributing, from Glasnow’s strong start to Hernandez’s walk-off hit.
The Dodgers end the homestand at 4-2, and now they head onto the road for seven games, four against the NL Central leading Brewers, and three in St. Louis against the Cardinals. This is an especially important series as the distance between these two teams has narrowed over the past few weeks, and now the Dodgers are barely in the second seed position. Clayton Kershaw takes to the mound on Monday, hoping to build on his strong start during this homestand. Game time in Milwaukee on Monday will be 5:10 PDT.
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