Pittsburgh Pirates series takeaways vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Aug 7, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates pinch hitter Pedro Alvarez (hidden) is mobbed by teammates after Alvarez hit a game winning RBI single against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the tenth inning at PNC Park. The Pirates won 5-4 in ten innings. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Nationally televised games are in reality, no more important than locally televised games, but it feels really good to sweep a quality first place team like the Dodgers while the entire nation watches. The Pirates did not play their best in any of the three games, but they were more than good enough to sweep Los Angeles and score a lot of runs doing it. The starting pitching left a lot to be desired this series, but the offense stepped up in a big, big way as they scored 24 runs on 39 hits in the series.

The Pirates will now turn their attention to the hated Cardinals as they travel to St. Louis for a three game series. The Pirates have owned the NL West this year, but have obviously struggled against their own division. That must change if the Pirates wish to catch the Cardinals and win the NL Central. While nothing will be decided this week against the Cardinals, you’d love to see the Pirates take two of three and move even closer to the Cardinals in the standings. This series might not have the sexy match up of Gerrit Cole vs, Clayton Kershaw, but it does feature the two best teams in the National League battling for supremacy. Give me that over a one great pitching match-up any day of the week.

Series result: Pirate win 3-0

2015 win/loss record: 65-44

2015 series record: 18-12-5

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