Recap: Pittsburgh vs. Los Angeles
Sports Network | September 15, 2008
Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Hiroki Kuroda threw seven scoreless innings and James Loney drove in three runs as the Los Angeles Dodgers notched an 8-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, in the opener of a four-game series from PNC Park.
Kuroda (9-10) gave up three hits and walked one batter, while striking out a pair in the win, LA's fifth in its last six. The Dodgers have won 13 of 15 overall to pull five games ahead of Arizona for the NL West division lead. Arizona hosts San Francisco later Monday.
Juan Pierre hit his first home run of the season in a three-hit effort with three runs scored and Manny Ramirez had three hits and a pair of runs batted in for LA.
Ross Ohlendorf (1-3) lasted just three innings in his third start of the season, and gave up three runs -- two earned -- on five hits and four walks with a pair of strikeouts in the loss. Adam LaRoche hit a two-run home run while Nyjer Morgan and Freddy Sanchez finished with two hits apiece for the Pirates, who swept the Cardinals in a three-game weekend series on the heels of a six-game slide.
Ohlendorf worked out of a bases-loaded situation in the second but ran into trouble an inning later. Russell Martin walked and Pierre singled to start the frame and both moved up a base on a wild pitch. Ramirez brought home both runners with a double to right and Loney followed with a single to move Ramirez to third. After two quick outs, Ryan Doumit tried to nail Loney who took off for second but the throw bounced away allowing Ramirez to score for a 3-0 lead.
Marino Salas took over for Ohlendorf in the fourth and loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a single from Ramirez. Loney pulled a two-run single down the right field line and the Dodgers owned a 5-0 lead.
Pierre made it 6-0 with a solo shot in the sixth and the Dodgers added runs on a sacrifice fly each from Blake DeWitt and then Loney in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively, for a 8-0 advantage.
Kuroda allowed just five baserunners before exiting in the eighth and Takashi Saito pitched a scoreless eighth. Brad Penny allowed a two-out, two-run homer to Adam LaRoche in the ninth.
Los Angeles leads the season series 3-1 after taking two of three April 14-16 at Chavez Ravine...The Dodgers are now 5-2 on a 10-game road trip...Tuesday's scheduled starters are Derek Lowe (13-11) for Los Angeles and Jeff Karstens (2-5) for Pittsburgh...LaRoche's home run was his 20th this season.
