Dodgers Overcome Quick Buc Start & Melky Mashing To Take 7-6 Win & Series Sweep

The Bucs scored first when Melky Cabrera ruined Rich Hill's return with a solo shot to left center. J-Bell added a two-out two-bagger, but JHK whiffed to end it. A walk, single and sac fly by Big Blue off Trevor Williams knotted it at 1-1. In the second, an error and a bunt single by Cotuck (C Russ Martin played it too aggressively; it looked as if it was going to roll foul) was followed by a Pablo RBI knock through the 2B hole. Willy's bunt moved the runners up to second and third, and Fraze's bouncer brought Tuck home. And holy moly, Pops Stargell was being channeled by Melky, who bombed another homer to make it 5-1. Willy did his thing, tossing a 1-2-3 frame. The Pirates calmed down in the third, and Hill tried to rally his troops with a leadoff knock, but they failed to follow his lead. Pittsburgh went quietly in the fourth and Cody Bellinger was up to his old tricks, banging a long ball to chip into the lead. The Bucs didn't get a ball out of the infield in the fifth. LA opened with two raps and a bunt to move them up. Willy whiffed Joc Pederson, and was a pitch away from escaping when he left an 0-2 change over the dish to Cory Seager, who belted a double; a jam-shot blooper to right followed, and it was a tie game.

Willy didn't have an answer today (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Hill tossed an easy sixth; the Pirates haven't had a hit since Melky's second-inning homer. Willy was tagged for a two-out triple, but Martin's bullet to left was gloved by Melky to keep the tie. Julio Urias climbed the hill for LA in the seventh and fanned a pair, tho Bryan Reynolds managed to break the Bucs hitless streak with a pinch hit, leg single to third. Ric Rod answered the call. A walk was followed by a grounder to J-Bell; he drilled the lead runner in the back with his peg to put Dodgers at second and third. A pop out was followed by a knock; LA had the lead for the first time, and Frankie Liriano was summoned. He had Bellinger 0-2, allowed him to work the count full, and then gave up a single to right to put Big Blue up by a pair. Melky singled to open the eighth and went to third when the ball got through AJ Pollack. Gregory worked a professional, 10-pitch walk off Urias. J-Bell broke his bat, but got enough to dink one into left to plate Cabrera. But curb your enthusiasm; two short flies to right and a whiff of Tuck on three fastballs up-and-in stopped the rally cold. Keone Kela took the ball and tossed a three up, three down frame.

Melky was money (photo Icon Sportswire/Getty)

Kenley Jansen took over. Fraze walked with two outs to keep a pulse beating; he was kept alive when the ump missed strike three two pitches prior. Melky, bless his red-hot soul, then banged a double to left. Big Joe ran for Cabrera and it was up to Gregory. It took four pitches, all cutters and three pretty much down the middle, to fan him.

Big Blue's a nice team through the lineup and with good pitching; the Bucs did hang with them for two of the three, but the same mistakes keep haunting them. It'll be interesting to see if the pitching holds up. After feasting on the weak-hitting Giants and Tigers, the major's #2 & 3 offenses of Arizona and LA showed took a bite of the rotation and the club continues a murderer's row stretch Tuesday against MLB's #4 run producer, Texas.

Notes:

• The Pirates had nine hits; Melky had four with three runs scored and three more chased home. Hopefully J-Bell is coming around; he had a pair of hits today. Bryan Reynolds 
• The Dodgers 2-3-4 hitters, Seager, Muncy and Bellinger, had six hits and all seven RBI.
• Pittsburgh has lost eight straight.
• The answer to the Bryan Reynolds off day - he was bruised after colliding with Clayton Kershaw in a race to first last night, and Clint wanted to give him today and tomorrow's off day to recover. He was available off the bench and come on as a pinch hitter, singling to keep his hit streak alive at seven, with a knock in every MLB game that he's played..
• The Dodgers activated Rich Hill from 10-day IL to start today and placed LHP Caleb Ferguson on 10-day IL. He's the guy who loaded the bases in the eighth against the Bucs last night.
• Pirates prospect SS Oneil Cruz broke his foot last night; he's out for an indefinite period.
• Former Buc OF Jordan Luplow was called to the show by Cleveland.