Betts, Freeman, Hernandez all homer as Dodgers avoid sweep by handling the Pirates 11-7
Betts, Freeman, Hernandez all homer as Dodgers avoid sweep by handling the Pirates 11-7
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernández, right, celebrates with Jason Heyward (23) as he returns to the dugout after hitting a solo home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bailey Falter during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts is greeted by Shohei Ohtani (17) after hitting a three-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Ben Heller during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, right, is greeted by third base coach Dino Ebel on the way to scoring on a three-run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts celebrates as he run the bases on a three-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Ben Heller during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman rounds third on a three-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bailey Falter during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani collects himself between pitches during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) requests from umpire Dan Merzel a replay review of a line drive hit by Shohei Ohtani during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. Ohtani was originally called out, but had a single after review. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bailey Falter (26) hands the ball to manager Derek Shelton as he is removed from the team’s baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fifth inning in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler delivers during the second inning of the team’s baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani strikes out during the second inning of the team’s baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman (5) is greeted by Mookie Betts, left, as he returns to the dugout after hitting a three-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bailey Falter during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, right, celebrates on first base in front of Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Rowdy Tellez, left, after hitting a single during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani waits on deck during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Alex Vesia, right, celebrates with catcher Austin Barnes after the team’s win in a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024 (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, right, celebrates with teammates after their baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani runs to first during the ninth inning of the team’s baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Justin Bruihl delivers during the eighth inning of the team’s baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton stands in the dugout during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani returns to the dugout after striking out against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen walks back to the dugout after striking out against Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas, right, is tagged out by Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Henry Davis during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernández, right, celebrates with Jason Heyward (23) as he returns to the dugout after hitting a solo home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bailey Falter during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernández, right, celebrates with Jason Heyward (23) as he returns to the dugout after hitting a solo home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bailey Falter during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts is greeted by Shohei Ohtani (17) after hitting a three-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Ben Heller during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts is greeted by Shohei Ohtani (17) after hitting a three-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Ben Heller during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, right, is greeted by third base coach Dino Ebel on the way to scoring on a three-run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, right, is greeted by third base coach Dino Ebel on the way to scoring on a three-run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts celebrates as he run the bases on a three-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Ben Heller during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts celebrates as he run the bases on a three-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Ben Heller during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman rounds third on a three-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bailey Falter during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman rounds third on a three-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bailey Falter during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani collects himself between pitches during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani collects himself between pitches during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) requests from umpire Dan Merzel a replay review of a line drive hit by Shohei Ohtani during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. Ohtani was originally called out, but had a single after review. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) requests from umpire Dan Merzel a replay review of a line drive hit by Shohei Ohtani during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. Ohtani was originally called out, but had a single after review. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bailey Falter (26) hands the ball to manager Derek Shelton as he is removed from the team’s baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fifth inning in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bailey Falter (26) hands the ball to manager Derek Shelton as he is removed from the team’s baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fifth inning in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler delivers during the second inning of the team’s baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler delivers during the second inning of the team’s baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani strikes out during the second inning of the team’s baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani strikes out during the second inning of the team’s baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman (5) is greeted by Mookie Betts, left, as he returns to the dugout after hitting a three-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bailey Falter during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman (5) is greeted by Mookie Betts, left, as he returns to the dugout after hitting a three-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bailey Falter during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, right, celebrates on first base in front of Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Rowdy Tellez, left, after hitting a single during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, right, celebrates on first base in front of Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Rowdy Tellez, left, after hitting a single during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani waits on deck during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani waits on deck during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Alex Vesia, right, celebrates with catcher Austin Barnes after the team’s win in a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024 (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Alex Vesia, right, celebrates with catcher Austin Barnes after the team’s win in a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024 (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, right, celebrates with teammates after their baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, right, celebrates with teammates after their baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani runs to first during the ninth inning of the team’s baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani runs to first during the ninth inning of the team’s baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Justin Bruihl delivers during the eighth inning of the team’s baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Justin Bruihl delivers during the eighth inning of the team’s baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton stands in the dugout during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton stands in the dugout during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani returns to the dugout after striking out against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani returns to the dugout after striking out against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen walks back to the dugout after striking out against Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen walks back to the dugout after striking out against Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas, right, is tagged out by Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Henry Davis during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas, right, is tagged out by Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Henry Davis during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernandez homered and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-7 on Thursday night to avoid a three-game sweep.
Freeman hit a three-run shot in the first for his eighth home run of the season. Betts added a three-run shot of his own during a six-run fifth inning as Los Angeles beat Pittsburgh for just the sixth time in their last 16 meetings despite a relatively quiet night from Shohei Ohtani, who went 1 for 6 with a run scored.
“It was good offensively,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I felt really good up and down the lineup. There was some situational stuff. Mookie came to life. Teo finally got some results, which was good for him.”
Oneil Cruz crushed a 462-foot home run that splashed into the Allegheny River for the Pirates, the sixth-longest homer in the majors so far this season. It wasn’t nearly enough as Pittsburgh missed a chance for their first three-game sweep of the Dodgers since 2015.
Los Angeles broke against Bailey Falter (3-3). Hernandez finished with three hits, including a go-ahead home run leading off the fifth that chased Falter.
“Teoscar is a good hitter, especially against lefties,” said Falter, who gave up five runs in four innings plus. “Just got to be a little bit more smart.”
Miguel Rojas added three hits and drove in a pair of runs as the high-powered Dodgers generated a little bit of momentum ahead of a three-game interleague series in the Bronx this weekend against the New York Yankees.
“We know it’s going to be a great atmosphere,” Betts said. “They’re going to come ready to play. We have to so we have to play.”
Los Angeles erupted for 14 hits, though Ohtani spent most of the night watching his teammates go to work. The superstar designated hitter, who homered and singled off Pirates rookie Paul Skenes on Wednesday, is batting just .225 (14 of 62) since May 29.
Michael Grove (3-2) pitched two scoreless innings in relief of an ineffective Walker Buehler.
Nick Gonzales had two hits, including a two-run blast off Buehler in the third briefly tied it at 4. Ke’Bryan Hayes had his first three-hit game of the season for Pittsburgh.
Buehler labored through three innings, his shortest outing of the season in his return from Tommy John surgery that forced him to miss all of 2023. The right-hander gave up four runs (three earned) and seven hits. He needed 78 pitches to get nine outs, though it would have helped if his teammates had done a better job catching the ball.
The Dodgers committed three errors, including two by Betts, who transitioned from right field to shortstop during the offseason.
“I’ve got to clean up a lot of things,” Betts said.
The Pirates weren’t much better in the field, as a wild throw to second by catcher Henry Davis let Enrique Hernández score from third during Los Angeles’ outburst in the fifth.
Pittsburgh took the first two games of the series behind the electric young arms of rookie pitchers Skenes and Jared Jones.
Falter wasn’t nearly as sharp. Los Angeles batted around in the first inning, highlighted by Freeman’s shot to the seats about the 21-foot-high Clemente Wall in right. While Falter settled down and made it to the fifth, he was pulled after giving up Hernandez’s leadoff homer in the fifth that put the Dodgers ahead to stay.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: Transferred LHP Ryan Borucki (wrist) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. The move allowed Pittsburgh to sign reliever Justin Bruihl, who opted out of a minor-league deal with Cincinnati last week.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: Rookie pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (6-2, 3.32 ERA) heads to the Big Apple when he starts for Los Angeles on Friday against New York’s Cody Poteet (2-0, 2.45)
Pirates: Welcome AL Central-leading Minnesota to PNC Park for a weekend series starting Friday. Mitch Keller (7-3, 3.42) starts for Pittsburgh against Joe Ryan (4-4, 3.38).
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