Pittsburgh Pirates Sweep Dodgers in LA for First Time Since 2000

The next time someone asks who the Los Angeles Dodgers daddy is the only correct answer will be the Pittsburgh Pirates

22 years. That is how long it had been since the Pittsburgh Pirates swept a series at Dodger Stadium. Well, for the first time since 2000 that has taken place after the team defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night.

With their 8-4 victory over the Dodgers on Wednesday night the Pittsburgh Pirates will fishing the season 5-1 against the Dodgers. This includes winning both series against the Dodgers, who, in addition to entering the series with the best record in baseball, entered the season with an 18 game winning streak against the Pirates. Following the victory the Pirates are now 22-27 overall on the season.

José Quintana starts, pitches better than his final line

While José Quintana pitched better than his final line, he still turned in one of the worst starts of the season. Quintana was charged with 2 runs on 7 hits, a walk and 3 strikeouts in 4.1 innings pitched.

Quintana loaded the bases with no one out in the 5th inning. He induced a ground ball off the bat of Freddie Freeman that Michael Chavis fielded, before stepping on first and firing home. Catcher Tyler Heineman failed to handle the throw. Had Heineman handled it the run would have been cut down and Quintana’s night may have been extended. Instead, Quintana was lifted from the game.

For the most part Quintana did what he has done all season by attacking the strike zone, making batters uncomfortable and getting outs. He also did a tremendous job in the 4th inning when the Dodgers had three straight hits to start the inning, before Quintana flipped a 5-4-3 double play ball before getting the final out of the inning.

Even after the outing, Quintana still owns a 2.32 ERA and a 3.16 FIP in 50.1 innings pitched across 10 starts this season. Quintana is putting together one of the best seasons of his career and should be a great trade chip for the Pittsburgh Pirates in July.

Big night for Bryan Reynolds

Bryan Reynolds has struggled to start the 2022 season. However, he had a big night at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night.

It started in the 1st inning when Reynolds drew a walk following a lead off hit by Ke’Bryan Hayes, helping the Pittsburgh Pirates take a 1-0 lead in the 1st inning. Reynolds walked in his next at-bat before launching a 2-run home run in his third trip to the plate. The 8th home run of the season by Reynolds gave the Pirates a 3-1 lead in the 5th inning. Reynolds was also intentionally walked in the 9th inning ahead of a RBI infield hit by Chavis.

Reynolds also made his presence felt defensively. With the Pirates leading 3-2 in the bottom of the 7th inning, Dodger runners on second and third, and just one out, Trea Turner flew out to shallow center field. Reynolds ran under the ball, setting himself up for a strong throw. A strong throw is what followed as Reynolds gunned down the potential tying run at the plate, preserving the Pirate lead and keeping the game tied.

Don’t bunt… hit dingers instead

After Josh VanMeter exited the game with left hand discomfort, Rodolfo Castro took over at second base in the bottom of the 7th inning. He immediately made an impact on the game by backhanding a ball hit by Freeman with an infield in to prevent a run from scoring.

After Chavis doubled to start the 8th inning Castro was called upon to bunt. With the count 3-1, Castro pulled back and instead swung away. This led to Castro hitting a 410+ foot nuke for his 1st home run of the season to extend the Pirate lead to 5-2.

Based on the exchange that occurred with Derek Shelton in the dugout following the home run it was clear that the bunt sign was still on for Castro when he homered. Luckily, Castro followed the two most important rules of bunting. To review, the rules on how to bunt are as follows:

1. Don’t
2. Hit dingers instead

Sacrifice bunting is bad, dumb, and stupid. Thankfully, Castro hit a nuke instead of Wednesday night.

Castro would continue to make his presence felt in the 9th inning. With two outs in the inning Castro lined a base hit to right field. This base knock scored Reynolds and Chavis, making the score 8-2 Pirates.

Following a day off on Thursday the Pittsburgh Pirates will host the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first game of a three-game weekend series at PNC Park. JT Brubaker (4.15 ERA, 3.92 FIP) is slated to start for the Pirates, while Arizona plans to send Merrill Kelly (3.67 ERA, 3.29 FIP) to the mound.  First pitch from PNC Park is scheduled for 7:05 PM ET.