Pirates Strike Early vs. Future Hall of Famer, Fend off Comeback Attempt to Down Dodgers
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates scored four times off Clayton Kershaw in the first inning and went toe-to-toe to the Los Angeles Dodgers, ultimately coming out on top 9-7 at PNC Park on Tuesday night.
How We Got There
Tommy Pham doubled home a pair, Andrew McCutchen recorded an RBI single on a liner off the glove of Kershaw and Alexander Canario capped off the big inning with a sac fly.
The Dodgers (78-60) scored a run off Carmen Mlodzinski in the second inning before Bubba Chandler relieved the Pirates’ starter.
Chandler (2-0) allowed three runs in four innings, one of which came on a Shohei Ohtani home run to right field in the third that registered an exit velocity of 120 mph.
Henry Davis broke a 4-4 tie in the sixth with an RBI single to right. Two batters later, Jared Triolo doubled home a pair to extend the Pirates’ lead to 7-4.
The Dodgers came back with two runs in the top of the seventh off Isaac Mattson. After Mookie Betts brought home a run, Mattson appeared to strike out Will Smith on a foul tip, but the call wasn’t made and Smith singled in another to bring Los Angeles within one.
The Pirates answered back when Oneil Cruz brought home Pham from third on a groundout to shortstop. Nick Gonzales tacked on an insurance run with an RBI single in the eighth.
Key Moment
After Shohei Ohtani hit an RBI double in the ninth, Pirates closer Dennis Santana faced the potential tying run in three straight at-bats against the heart of the Dodgers’ lineup. He retired Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith for his 12th save of the season.
Player of the Game
Jared Triolo stayed hot, finishing the game with two doubles and a walk. He drove in two runs and scored a pair.
And now Big Tri 🌳 pic.twitter.com/B5GmSBdN8F
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) September 3, 2025
Stat to Know
Henry Davis was hitless in his last 42 at-bats with runners in scoring position prior to his RBI single in the sixth.
Notable Performances
- Carmen Mlodzinski: 2.0 innings, two hits, one run, one walk, one strikeout, 50 pitches/34 strikes
- Bubba Chandler: 4.0 innings, six hits, three runs, no walks, three strikeouts, 65 pitches/44 strikes
- Jared Triolo: 2 for 4, two doubles, two RBI, two runs, one walk, one steal
- Tommy Pham: 2 for 4, one double, two RBI, two runs
- Andrew McCutchen: 1 for 2, one RBI, one run, two walks
Noteworthy
- Andrew McCutchen passed Honus Wagner for fourth place on the Pirates all-time walks list with 878 after drawing two in the game.
- Clayton Kershaw posted a 1.88 ERA (6er/28.2ip) in five August starts before allowing four runs in the first inning in this one.
- The Pirates recalled INF/OF Nick Yorke and RHP Cam Sanders as their two September call-ups.
Up Next
RHP Braxton Ashcraft (4-2, 2.58 ERA) will start for the Pirates on Wednesday night. Two-way star Shohei Ohtani (1-1, 4.18 ERA) will be on the mound for the Dodgers. First pitch: 6:40 p.m. ET.
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