The Dodgers on Thursday avoided a sweep in Pittsburgh and in the process looked as good as they have in a long time. Their 11-7 victory included single innings where they posted four runs and six runs, and they overcame a rough outing for starting pitcher Walker Buehler.
Here are seven takeaways from the Dodgers' win over the Pirates:
1. First blood
The Dodgers offense came roaring back to life in the first inning Thursday night. Mookie Betts led off with a single. Shohei Ohtani followed with a single of his own. Freddie Freeman blasted a three-run homer. Teoscar Hernandez doubled and was later driven in by Miguel Rojas. A four-run first inning was an excellent sign that the club was picking up where it left off in Wednesday's encouraging offensive performance.
2. So many runs
After averaging fewer than 4.0 runs per game over their last 19 contests, the Dodgers exploded for 11 Thursday night. It marked their highest run total in a game since they hung up 11 on a May 3 win over the Braves.
3. Defensive miscues
LA's defense let down starting pitcher Walker Buehler. Two throwing errors by Mookie Betts and Kiké Hernandez led to Pittsburgh's first run of the game. There was another line drive dropped by left fielder Miguel Vargas that was scored as a double for Pirates first baseman Rowdy Tellez. Then a ground ball that should've ended the inning for Buehler was bobbled by Betts and didn't allow him to record an out. Those last two didn't lead to additional runs, but they did force Buehler to throw more pitches to get out of the inning. Betts made another throwing error in the sixth inning that didn't come back to affect the Dodgers.
4. Buehler's off day
Walker Buehler had his shortest start of the year, going just 3.0 innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits. He struggled with his location all game and a three-run inning by the Pirates in the third chased him early with 78 pitches.
5. Hitting is contagious
Nobody on the Dodgers was hitting particularly well heading into Thursday's game. Then everybody started hitting. The tone was set in the first inning and carried throughout the night. Every Dodgers starter had at least one hit, they amassed 14 hits, tagged three home runs and even went 6-for-15 with runners in scoring position. That's the kind of offensive breakout LA has been looking for.
6. Had to have it
LA only got one game against the Pirates, but it was one they needed to have going into a three-game showdown against the Yankees in New York. If Thursday was an indicator that the Dodgers are breaking out of their offensive slump, this weekend's series in the Bronx could be a blast.
7. Closer in a non-save situation
Evan Phillips got the call from the bullpen in the eighth inning to get some work since he'd pitched only once since making his return from the IL on June 1. His one inning of work did not go well. Phillips threw 31 pitches and gave up four hits and three runs on a home run from Oneil Cruz. This is a tough spot for a closer to enter a game so it's not particularly alarming that Phillips had a bad outing, but it's worth filing away if he does begin to struggle while closing games.
