Dodgers Double Bucs Into Submission 7-2

So it's not raining and we have a delay; been that kind of year (actually, they expect a storm to push through and decided discretion was the better part of valor; it started coming down about 7:45 or so). They started at nine and Joc Pederson opened with a double off Big Joe, and a one-out rap brought him home. Hyun-Jin Ryu coaxed a grounder and whiffed a pair. The Dodgers banged another two-bagger in the second, but this one stayed put. J-Bell opened with a double (seems like a lot of that going around so far). Melky dribbled a swinging bunt; Russ threw it into right to tie the score. Cervy and Tuck, an unlikely pair of suspects, both singled to give the Bucs the lead. Joe bunted them up to no avail. LA banged another two-bagger in the third, and Cody Bellinger chased him home with two away. Starling and J-Bell had consecutive one-out knocks, but Melky rolled into 6-4-3 DP. Joe was touched for a two-out, 10-pitch single by Chris Taylor, and of course the Dodgers had another double in them, this one from Ryu off a 3-2 four seamer, as the eight-nine hitters regain the lead in the fourth. To add injury to insult, Cervy got beaned with a broken Dodger bat, but stayed in the game.

Big Joe is 3-5/4.27 after tonight's match (image via Pittsburgh Pirates)

K-Man opened with his own nine-pitch single, a soft infield squib. And in mixed news; Eli batted for Cervy. Bad in that Fran's hurt (he was in the on-deck circle and took himself out), good in that Eli doubled to put Pirates at second and third. Tuck and Big Joe hit short flies, and Fraze lined out to center. RISP bites the Bucs once again; they're 2-for-9, about par for them. The doubles kept coming for LA; they led off the fifth with three in a row; they all tallied. Bryan Reynolds and Starling opened with knocks; a J-Bell DP and Melky bouncer rang up another zero. Rookie Davis got the call for the sixth; guess he's not starting Monday. And surprise; LA opened with a double, and a bunt and single added another tally. K-Man smacked a leadoff two-bagger, and he didn't score as Pittsburgh fell to 2-of-14 w/RISP. It did take a great play by Cody Bellinger in right, who kissed the wall to take extra bases from Jake Elmore. With two gone in the seventh, LA got a knock and a walk, but no doubles and no runs. Easy concept, right? Julio Urias took the ball. Starling reached on a two-out single & error, but was left on the pond.

Rookie put up another zero in the eighth, and ditto for Urias. Dovy Neverauskas got through the ninth with just a couple of walks. Scott Alexander tucked the Bucs in for the night.

Rookie Davis tossed three solid innings in his Buc debut (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

The Dodgers had 13 hits, eight of which were doubles. The Pirates had 11 knocks, three for extra bases. LA went 5-of-13 w/RISP; Pittsburgh 2-of-15. The Dodgers really show what a loaded lefty lineup can do against a team that lacks a southpaw starter, and Steel City's lack of punching power makes it tough to hang in games where runs come in bunches. Archie's turn tomorrow to try to salvage a game, Mother Nature cooperating.

Notes:

• Starling had three hits, J-Bell and K-Man a pair each. Both teams put the ball in play tonight; the Dodgers fanned five Buccos and Pittsburgh got a third strike just three times against LA.
• Fran left tonight's game with concussion-like symptoms. He may love catching, but it sure ain't lovin' him back.
• 25,842 was tonight's announced attendance; the Bucs picked a couple of good evenings to showcase themselves. They're 10-13 at home.
• Praise be - reports have Mitch Keller making his debut Monday against the Reds. 
• Russ got a tribute video and ovation when he batted tonight.
• Hyun-Jin Ryu's scoreless streak ended at 32 IP in the second.
• Chris Stratton became the 21st Bucco to hit the IL this year. Pretty impressive, considering it's just May 25th. 
• RHP George Kontas signed a minor-league deal with the Nats. The Bucs released him about a year ago and he worked a handful of frames for the Yankees and Indians.