A day late, but Dodgers ready at the plate
After failing to bring bats as a six-game win streak ended, they score a season high.
PITTSBURGH — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had a feeling Tuesday afternoon.
The night before, his team had suffered an uncharacteristic night at the plate.
The Dodgers hit plenty of balls hard in their series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates but mustered only four hits in a 5-1 loss.
However, Roberts anticipated a response.
“Last night was an ugly one,” he said.
“I expected to see a different result tonight.”
That he did, with the Dodgers putting on an exhibition at the plate to rout the Pirates 11-1 at PNC Park.
The Dodgers recorded a season high in runs and hits, racking up 15. They collected eight doubles, tying the most since relocating to Los Angeles.
They also had a triple, a home run and three walks, going eight for 14 with runners in scoring position.
“It was a really good offensive night,” Roberts said. “Just good to see guys break out.”
The Dodgers (20-8) opened the scoring quickly, striking twice in the first on doubles from Freddie Free
man, Trea Turner and Justin Turner.
They added on with two big innings, tallying five runs in the third and four in the seventh.
And they did it all without Chris Taylor, who was out with a left knee bone bruise he suffered Monday but said he was feeling better, and Will Smith, who missed his second straight game with right pectoral tightness but is expected to play Wednesday.
Justin Turner had the best — and most needed — night. After entering the game with a .168 batting average and team-worst .469 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, he went four for five with three doubles and four RBIs, all season highs.
“I’ve been feeling better this whole road trip,” Turner said.
“Taking better at-bats, seeing the ball better, hitting balls harder. It was good to get results tonight, but at the same time, happy with the process and hitting balls hard and swinging at good pitches.”
He wasn’t alone. Edwin Ríos had three RBIs and homered for a second straight game, the highlight of a three-for-five night in his first start since April 27.
Trea Turner and Gavin Lux each added two hits. Austin Barnes had a tworun double. Max Muncy had a triple.
Even the only player to go hitless, Mookie Betts, contributed on defense by throwing out a runner at home on a fly to right — the closest the Pirates came to scoring against Dodgers starter Tony Gonsolin, who pitched five scoreless innings.
“I just think up and down there’s people that feel like there’s a lot more in the tank and we take pride in that,” said Trea Turner, one of several Dodgers who came into the game scuffling at the plate. “The pitching has been really good and kind of carried us. But I think nights like tonight are going to happen a lot more often when we get going.”
Pepiot to make pitching debut
Pitching prospect Ryan Pepiot found out he was joining the Dodgers with a phone call from his triple-A manager Monday.
On Tuesday afternoon, his new manager made another milestone official, announcing Pepiot will make his major-league debut in a start Wednesday against the Pirates.
“It’s a dream come true,” Pepiot said in the dugout at PNC Park.
His biggest growth came over the last year.
A former third-round pick who rose quickly in the farm system, Pepiot struggled after reaching triple A last season, posting a 7.13 earned-run average in 11 appearances.
Part of the problem was inconsistency with his fastball and slider.
But the 24-year-old struggled with the mental repercussions of the setback too. “I knew the mental part of baseball is massive,” Pepiot said.
“But it just hadn’t really hit me until that moment.”
So, he focused on his mental approach this winter. He spoke with psychologists ahead of spring training. And he came into the year better prepared to make the final leap up the minor-league ladder.
“[Last year] was tough as it was going on,” Dodgers director of minor league pitching Rob Hill said. “But it ultimately ended up being a good thing, because he came back this year with a fresh approach.”
Pepiot, an Indianapolis native, said he’ll have friends and family in attendance Wednesday.
“This is a talented ballclub to be a part of, so just one day is amazing,” Pepiot added. “So I’m gonna do what I can to give them the best chance to win.”