The Pirates’ lineup flailed its way through another loss, this one 2-1 to the Dodgers. The Pirates have now lost 12 straight to them.
Facing the team that easily leads the NL in scoring, the Pirates got some very good pitching. Tyler Anderson went six, allowing two runs. Both came on home runs by Justin Turner. Gopher balls have been a problem for Anderson through most of his career, so the issues he’s had this year probably won’t go away, but he’s been effective most of the time just the same.
The bullpen did its part, too. Clay Holmes held the Dodgers scoreless in the seventh, Sam Howard in the eighth. After Howard got the first batter in the ninth, David Bednar came on to retire Mookie Betts and, after a walk, Turner.
As usual, though, the hitters weren’t up to it. Dodgers starter Tony Gonsolin was returning from a lengthy absence due to a sore shoulder and couldn’t throw strikes, but the Pirates couldn’t take advantage. Gregory Polanco singled in the first to drive in Bryan Reynolds, who barely beat the tag. The Pirates loaded the bases later in the inning, but Michael Perez struck out. In the second, Gonsolin walked Adam Frazier, Ke’Bryan Hayes and Reynolds with two out. That finished Gonsolin, but Colin Moran lined out.
From the third through the eighth, the Pirates got only one more runner past first. That came in the fifth when Hayes singled and, following a force out, Moran got hit on the hand. Moran left in apparent pain; word on any injury should be forthcoming. Polanco and Kevin Newman then stranded the runners.
In the ninth, Ka’ai Tom, who’d fanned in his previous three at-bats, led off with a walk. He took second on a two-out ground out, but Hayes lined back to Kenley Jansen to end the game.
The Pirates finished with three hits, all singles. After Polanco’s single in the first, they went a composite 1-for-25. That all included a more-or-less typical 1-for-6 with RISP. They stranded ten.
