Recap: Zack Greinke Dominates Pirates, Dodgers Effectively Wild On The Bases
Neil Walker got the Pirates on the board in the fourth inning with a solo home run that easily cleared the fenced in straightaway center. After Ellis led off the bottom of the fourth with a base hit, Seager jumped on Locke’s first pitch for a two-run homer that extended the Dodgers’ lead to 4-1.
The home run was Seager’s second in his big league career, and first at Dodger Stadium. Greinke later kept the inning alive with a two-out single, but Ruggiano fouled out to end the inning. Turner lined a base hit to center field in the bottom of the fourth and was later picked off to end the inning. The pick off was Locke’s second of the game.
Greinke meanwhile continued to stifle the Pirates, setting them down in order in the sixth. Locke collected two more strikeouts in the bottom of the sixth, giving him four in the game. The Pirates failed to generate much of anything against Greinke in the seventh.
At 90 pitches through six seven innings, Greinke hit for himself in the bottom half of the inning and lined a double over McCutchen’s head. Arquimedes Caminero replaced Locke and walked pinch-hitter Andre Ethier to put two on with one out.
After Utley grounded into a fielder’s choice with the force out being made at second base, Caminero walked Turner to load the bases. Gonzalez provided insurance runs for the Dodgers by driving a two-run double to right-center field.
Pitching with a 6-1 lead, Greinke gave up a leadoff single and walked pinch-hitter Michael Morse, putting two on with none out. Greinke exited to a standing ovation as Dodgers manager Don Mattingly called on Luis Avilan out of the bullpen.
Avilan struck out Gregory Polanco, then handed the ball over to Chris Hatcher. His first pitch was hit up the middle for an RBI single that trimmed the Dodgers’ lead to 6-2. Hatcher then retired the next two batters faced to end the inning.
For a third time in his last four appearances, Kenley Jansen entered in the ninth despite it being a non-save situation. He nonetheless put the finishing touches on the Dodgers’ win.
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