Dodgers Shut Out by Pirates in Game 2, Will Look to Blake Snell to Bounce Back
Game 139, 9/3/2025: Dodgers 0, Pirates 3
PITTSBURGH – As the Dodgers continued their three-game series against the Pirates, the question entering Game 2 was whether they could bounce back from the previous night’s loss.
Los Angeles turned to left-hander Emmet Sheehan, who came into the night with a 5-2 record and a 3.56 ERA. Sheehan started in place of Shohei Ohtani, who was scratched due to an illness. The southpaw worked 4.2 innings, allowing five hits and two earned runs while striking out six and walking two batters.
Sheehan looked strong in the first inning before giving up a solo home run to Bryan Reynolds. In the second, the Pirates added another run on a solot shot from veteran Andrew McCutchen, giving Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead.
The Dodgers suffered another setback in the second inning when catcher Will Smith was hit on the right hand by a pitch. He exited the game the following frame with a right-hand contusion and was replaced by Dalton Rushing. The injury interrupts a hot streak for Smith, who has slashed .278 with a .435 on-base percentage over his last seven games, highlighted by a pinch-hit walk-off homer against the Diamondbacks on August 31.
In the top of the fifth, the Dodgers threatened to break through. Shohei Ohtani opened with a double, followed by a walk from Mookie Betts. Dalton Rushing’s flyout moved Ohtani to third, but Freddie Freeman grounded into an inning-ending double play, keeping the Pirates ahead 2-0.
After 5.2 innings, manager Dave Roberts called on Ben Casparius to finish the frame. He escaped unscathed but returned in the seventh, allowing an RBI double to Joey Bart that extended the lead to 3-0. Casparius finished with 1.1 innings pitched, two hits allowed, and one earned run. Justin Wrobleski followed and delivered a solid two-inning outing with two strikeouts.
Ultimately, the Dodgers’ offense was unable to generate much against the Pirates, falling to a shutout loss. The Dodgers will look for Blake Snell to set the tone in the next game as they try to get back in the win column.
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!
