AP

Pirates rally in 9th inning for wild 6-5 win over Dodgers

May 30, 2022, 10:46 AM | Updated: 11:51 pm

Los Angeles Dodgers' Chris Taylor hits a single RBI against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the eighth inning of a baseball game Monday, May 30, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/John McCoy)

(AP Photo/John McCoy)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — At least in May, the young Pittsburgh Pirates have the Los Angeles Dodgers’ number.

Against one of the best lineups in baseball, the Pirates blew a 4-0 lead, fell behind in the eighth inning and then rallied in the ninth to eke out a wild 6-5 victory Monday night.

“That’s a huge team victory for us. We kept battling back,” said manager Derek Shelton, who earned his 100th career win. “We continued to grind out at-bats. It was cool to see.”

Michael Perez hit a tying single in the ninth inning and pinch-runner Michael Chavis scored the go-ahead run on Freddie Freeman’s error to end the Dodgers’ four-game winning streak.

Los Angeles scored twice in the eighth to take its only lead before the Pirates charged right back against closer Craig Kimbrel (0-1), who was handed his first blown save of the season.

“I’ll be the first one to tell you my last couple outings have been pretty bad,” Kimbrel said. “Haven’t really been like I should be. I’ve been hurting myself a lot by walking guys and throwing wild pitches or hitting guys.”

The Pirates have beaten the Dodgers in three of four meetings this month. Los Angeles was coming off an 8-2 road trip that included a four-game sweep of Arizona.

“We’ve played well against them and we haven’t beat ourselves, which is the most important thing,” Shelton said. “You really have to execute because they’re so good.”

With one out in the ninth, Diego Castillo walked and moved to second on Kimbrel’s wild pitch that went to the backstop. Perez singled to deep right field, scoring Castillo, and advanced to second on the throw home.

Chavis scored the go-ahead run on Freeman’s error when a ball hit by Cal Mitchell went off the first baseman’s glove.

“I missed it,” Freeman said. “We had a chance to win it and we just didn’t.”

The Dodgers — with a major league-leading 13 comeback victories — weren’t done yet.

Mookie Betts’ ground-rule double in the ninth off David Bednar (2-1) put the potential tying run in scoring position. With fans chanting his first name, Freeman drew a seven-pitch walk, putting the potential go-ahead run on.

Betts stayed put on Trea Turner’s long fly to right field for the second out. Will Smith struck out swinging to end an 0-for-5 performance and the game.

“A roller coaster,” Bednar said.

The Dodgers trailed 4-0 early but briefly took the lead in the eighth against Bednar.

Turner doubled leading off as the ball popped out of second baseman Castillo’s glove as he went to tag Turner, who slid headfirst into the bag. After Smith flied out and Edwin Rios struck out, Justin Turner doubled to left-center, scoring Trea Turner with the tying run.

Chris Taylor, who entered as a defensive replacement in the seventh, followed with a bloop single to right-center, scoring Justin Turner and giving the Dodgers a 5-4 lead.

“I came in the dugout incredibly frustrated,” said Bednar, who was asked to go back out in the ninth. “I just had to flush it really quick.”

Tucupita Marcano hit a three-run homer, his first in the majors, in the second inning off Walker Buehler to give the Pirates a 3-0 lead.

They made it 4-0 in the third with a solo shot by Bryan Reynolds on the first pitch from Buehler.

Pirates starter Zach Thompson allowed two runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings. The right-hander struck out four and walked one.

The Dodgers had the potential tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position in the seventh. With two outs, Hanser Alberto reached on an infield single to shortstop off reliever Dillon Peters. He walked Betts before Freeman hit a chopper to Peters, who threw underhand to first to end the threat.

The Dodgers trailed 4-2 in the fifth after consecutive two-out homers by Alberto and Betts. It was the third time this season the team homered back-to-back. Edwin Rios’ solo homer in the sixth got them to 4-3.

Buehler gave up four runs and seven hits in six innings. He struck out seven and walked one.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: OF Cody Bellinger was removed from the lineup before the game with left leg tightness. Kevin Pillar started in center field. … LHP Clayton Kershaw (pelvis) threw a 35-pitch bullpen. “He was outstanding,” manager Dave Roberts said. Kershaw will throw another bullpen in a few days and go on a rehab assignment. … LHP Andrew Heaney (shoulder discomfort) threw a 35-pitch simulated game. He’ll throw a side session this week before going on a rehab assignment Friday. … 1B Max Muncy (left elbow inflammation) will return to the team’s spring training site in Arizona later this week. He didn’t swing a bat during the four-game series against the Diamondbacks. “We don’t want to put a (recovery) time on him,” Roberts said.

PIRATES MOVES

Infielder Yu Chang was acquired from Cleveland for cash and added to the active roster before the game. To make room for Chang, infielder-outfielder Hoy Park was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis.

UP NEXT

Pirates: RHP Mitch Keller (1-5, 6.05 ERA) has struggled with consistency this season, especially in the first inning when he’s been hit hard.

Dodgers: LHP Julio Urías (3-4, 2.49 ERA) faced the Pirates for the first time in his career earlier this month, allowing two runs and 11 hits in six innings.

___

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Pirates rally in 9th inning for wild 6-5 win over Dodgers