LOS ANGELES—Teoscar Hernández drove in three runs, the last with a game-ending RBI single in the 10th inning, as the Los Angeles Dodgers pulled off a 6–5 victory over Pittsburgh on Sunday, handing the Pirates a season-high seventh consecutive defeat.
“When [the moment] gets hot, with runners in scoring position, Teo’s heartbeat doesn’t rise,” Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts said. “It just looks like he embraces hitting in those spots. He shortens up his swing, makes contact, and that’s why he’s driven in close to 80 runs already.”
The Dodgers got a game-tying RBI double in the 10th from Kiké Hernández, who scored the winning run on Teoscar Hernández’s single. Kiké Hernández had three hits. Right-hander Evan Phillips (3–0) allowed an unearned run in the 10th but got the win.
Bryan Reynolds gave the Pirates a 5–4 lead in the 10th inning with a one-out RBI single to center field.
“I just try to not overthink it, not trying to over-swing, or anything like that,” Teoscar Hernández said. “Just trying to stay patient, be calm, and just get a good pitch and put it in play. In situations like that with two outs, I don’t have to do a double or homer or anything like that. With a hit, we can win a ball game.”
Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow allowed two runs on five hits over seven innings against his former team. Pittsburgh drafted Glasnow in the fifth round in 2011 and brought him to the major leagues in 2016.
Andrew McCutchen hit two home runs in his return to the leadoff spot for the Pirates after missing three games with knee soreness. Left-hander Bailey Falter gave up four runs on seven hits over four innings in his first career start at Dodger Stadium.
McCutchen said his knee was at about 70 percent.
“Seventy percent is better than zero percent, so if I can swing the bat, I’m gonna swing it,” McCutchen said. “If I can’t run, I can’t run, but my job is to hit, to DH. ... Just keep the line moving, get the next guy up, and that’s what I’m gonna do.”
Pirates right-hander David Bednar (3–5) took the loss while in his second inning of work. Bednar has given up runs in five consecutive outings, and has a loss and two blown saves in his past three outings.
“It comes to the fact that we don’t have much left in our bullpen,” Pirates Manager Derek Shelton said about sending Bednar back out for a rare second inning. “We were one pitch away from getting out of it. It’s a tough spot when your bullpen is the way ours is right now.”
After hitting a two-run home run off Glasnow in the third inning, McCutchen tied the game 4–4 with a two-run shot against Dodgers left-hander Anthony Banda in the eighth.
The Dodgers scored in the opening inning for the third time in the series. Freddie Freeman doubled with two outs and Will Smith followed with his own double for a run. Amed Rosario made it 2–0 with a single to left.
Los Angeles scored two more runs in the second inning on a two-out double from Teoscar Hernández.
After Glasnow retired the first seven batters, Ji Hwan Bae doubled with one out in the third before McCutchen hit a two-run home run off the top of the wall in right field. He increased his hitting streak to eight games, matching a season best.
Trainer’s Room
Dodgers: Rookie right-hander River Ryan will miss the remainder of the season with an elbow-ligament strain. Ryan went 1–0 with a 1.33 earned-run average in his first four major-league starts. ... Right-hander Landon Knack (2–2, 3.07) took Ryan’s spot on the roster. ... Third baseman Max Muncy and utility man Tommy Edman emerged from a minor-league rehab game Saturday in good health, and both are on track to join the major-league roster during the club’s Aug. 19–29 homestand. ... Left-hander Alex Vesia has been pitching through knee discomfort while compiling a 6.75 ERA over his past seven outings, according to Roberts.Up Next
Pirates: Pittsburgh was undecided on a starter for Monday’s opener of a three-game series at San Diego.Dodgers: Left-hander Clayton Kershaw (0–2, 4.38) is set to make his fourth start of the season Monday in the opener of a four-game series at Milwaukee.
