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Dodgers Vs Pittsburgh Pirates Match Player Stats

August 21, 2024

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The Dodgers secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in a tense, thrilling contest on June 4, 2024, at Dodger Stadium. What the final score obscures is the drama contained in nearly every inning — a true pitchers’ duel where command, situational play and a single decisive sequence determined the outcome.

Pitching Masterclass

Both clubs entered the night with high expectations for their aces, and the starting pitching lived up to that billing. For the Dodgers, veteran left-hander Clayton Kershaw took the ball, while the Pirates countered with right-hander Mitch Keller. Each starter displayed excellent command and sequencing, keeping hitters off balance and turning what might have been a routine night into a tense chess match.

Kershaw produced another vintage outing, going 7.2 shutout innings, surrendering just three hits and recording eight strikeouts. He mixed his fastball, curveball and slider effectively, and his veteran instincts showed in pressure moments — notably inducing an inning-ending double play in the sixth when the Pirates had runners on first and second with one out.

Keller matched Kershaw pitch for pitch through his time on the mound, tossing 6.1 innings and allowing one run on four hits while striking out six. Keller’s night was highlighted by his ability to work out of jams; in the fourth inning, with runners at second and third and nobody out, he struck out two straight batters before coaxing a groundball to end the threat and keep the game scoreless.

The Decisive Moment

The lone run of the game came in the bottom of the seventh and was a textbook example of manufacturing a run in a tight game. With Keller still on the bump, Mookie Betts started the inning with a sharp single to right. Freddie Freeman followed with a well-executed sacrifice bunt, moving Betts into scoring position at second. With one out, Will Smith — who had been struggling recently — delivered in the clutch.

On a 2-1 count, Smith ripped a double down the left-field line, plating Betts easily from second. Dodger Stadium erupted as Betts crossed the plate, recognizing that in a game where runs were scarce, this extra-base hit could be decisive.

Bullpen Holds Firm

After Kershaw exited following the eighth-inning warm-up, the Dodgers turned to their bullpen to preserve the one-run lead. Evan Phillips came on in the eighth and retired the lone batter he faced, setting the stage for Brusdar Graterol in the ninth. Known for his high-velocity fastball, Graterol breezed through the top of the Pirates’ order: he struck out Andrew McCutchen with a 101 mph heater, induced a weak groundout from Bryan Reynolds, and closed the game with a flyout by Ke’Bryan Hayes. The save was Graterol’s ninth of the season and sealed the Dodgers’ 1-0 win.

Offensive Struggles

While pitching was the headline, the scarcity of offense from both teams was a recurring theme. The Dodgers collected five hits, with Betts and Smith providing the most meaningful contributions — Betts’ seventh-inning single was his second hit of the night, and Smith’s double, though his only hit, supplied the decisive RBI. The Pirates managed just three hits, all singles, and never mounted a sustained threat after the sixth inning. Kershaw and the Dodgers’ relievers retired the final 10 Pittsburgh batters in order, leaving the Pirates to search for timely offense.

Key Takeaways

This game encapsulated the dual beauty and frustration of baseball: elite pitching and a single small margin deciding the result. For the Dodgers, the night underscored the value of late-game manufacturing and veteran pitching. Kershaw’s performance felt like a throwback to his best seasons, and Graterol’s dominant ninth showed why he’s among baseball’s most intimidating late-inning arms.

For the Pirates, the result stung. Mitch Keller delivered a strong outing and deserved more run support, but Pittsburgh’s offense left several opportunities unclaimed. Finding consistency with runners in scoring position will be vital if they intend to compete in a tough National League Central.