Pittsburgh Pirates Bounce Back to Win Series vs Dodgers

Strong pitching bookends the series for the Pittsburgh Pirates

In game two of the series the Pittsburgh Pirates surrendered 11 runs while getting blown out, but in the first and third game of the series the Pirate pitching staff was terrific. This terrific effort began with the team’s starters.

José Quintana started game one and allowed 2 hits while walking 4 and striking out 5 in 6 scoreless innings pitched. In arguably the best start of the season by a Pirate starter, Quintana also picked up the first win of the season by a Pirate starter.

While he was technically serving as an opener, Dillon Peters took the mound to start game three on Wednesday afternoon. Peters pitched 3+ scoreless innings, holding the Dodgers to a pair of hits while striking out 2.

Following Quintana, Anthony Banda, Wil Crowe, and David Bednar combined to allow just just 1 run on 2 hits, a walk, and 2 strikeouts. The lone run allowed was a solo home run by Bednar. While Chris Stratton allowed 3 runs in 1/3 of an inning pitched on Wednesday afternoon, aided in large part by a Josh VanMeter error on what looked like a route double play ball, Max Kranick, Crowe and Bednar combined to allow 2 hits, 3 walks and 5 strikeouts in 5.2 scoreless innings pitched. Moving forward, the Pittsburgh Pirates should look to get Kranick into the starting rotation.