Another off-day, another dud the day after, but this time the Dodgers did it a different way as the pitchers struggled to limit one of the worst offenses in baseball. Clayton Kershaw gave up four in the first and the Dodgers could barely catch up before the pen proceeded to continue the run prevention struggles in a 9-7 loss to the Pirates.
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Things started about as poorly as possible for Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers, as the Pirates went double, walk, walk, double to score two, and then a single to score another to start the game with a 3-0 lead.
Tommy Pham gets the party started ? pic.twitter.com/7yRWC5fxJm
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) September 2, 2025
A sac fly was the game’s first out to make it 4-0, and after yet another single followed, a double play allowed Kershaw to get through that inning as he was in danger of being removed.
The good news is Kershaw did settle down from there, as he allowed just a pair of walks over the next four innings, ending his outing by spearing a missile of a comebacker from Tommy Pham.
How, Kersh?! 😳 pic.twitter.com/RZUMptTr8E
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 3, 2025
It was basically just the first five runners (and some typical defensive issues) that got him: 5 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 3 K, 83 Pitches.
At least that first inning looks something like a fluke for Kershaw. Though I guess that’s always the fear when the command isn’t sharp and you can’t get whiffs with these outfielders.
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) September 2, 2025
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Almost surprisingly, the offense did their best to dig Kershaw out of that hole. After a quiet 1st, back-to-back singles from Will Smith and Teoscar Hernandez started the 2nd. A Michael Conforto walk loaded the bases with nobody out, but Andy Pages hit into a double play, which got a run home but also killed off that golden chance.
In the 3rd, Shohei Ohtani hit his 46th of the year and 100th as a Dodger, a rocket at 120 MPH to make it 4-2 Pirates.
120 mph for Shohei’s 100th homer as a Dodger! pic.twitter.com/iIukEIr5UP
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 2, 2025
Another rally followed, as singles from Mookie Betts and Will with an out between put a pair on, and Teoscar singled again to make it 4-3 with the rally ending there.
Teoscar has his second hit of the game on a 100 MPH fastball to make it a one-run game. pic.twitter.com/DDDY8fvDXg
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) September 2, 2025
Eventually, they tied the game up in the 4th, as Pages did what he was trying to do last time up, drilling his 24th homer to tie things up at 4-4.
Tie it, Andy! pic.twitter.com/NHloBiApa8
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 2, 2025
The Dodgers then got just one baserunner each in the 5th and 6th.
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Unfortunately, the pen behind Kershaw struggled. Edgardo Henriquez had his first lapse of the season, issuing back-to-back walks to start the 6th before getting an out, but then giving up a single on an 0-2 count to put the Pirates up 5-4.
Henry Davis delivers! ? pic.twitter.com/uRXMA2ZXD7
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) September 3, 2025
That brought in Blake Treinen, who started his outing with a strikeout, but then hung a 1-2 slider that was hit for a double that scored two runs and make it 7-4.
And now Big Tri ? pic.twitter.com/B5GmSBdN8F
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) September 3, 2025
Felt backbreaking as they were back to chasing.
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To be fair, the bats did indeed chase in the 7th. A Miguel Rojas single was followed by a Shohei double to put a pair in scoring position. Mookie then grounded softly to score Rojas, then Freddie hit a comebacker that hit off the pitcher and Ohtani was caught off third on a contact play to prevent another run from scoring.
Freddie did make it to second, which proved important when Smith benefitted from a missed foul tip call and singled on the next pitch to make it 7-6.
After a blown foul tip call, Dills singles on the next pitch to get within one. pic.twitter.com/lFJvgMffNq
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) September 3, 2025
No matter, as the pen continued to struggle. Michael Kopech entered in their half of the 7th, getting the first batter and then giving up a single and walk. Anthony Banda entered, uncorked a wild pitch on his first pitch, which led to a run on an infield chopper for an out to push the lead to 8-6 before he was able to end it.
The 9th led to more issues, as Kirby Yates got the first two outs, issued another walk, gave up a stolen base, and the a single fell in off Pages’ sliding attempt to push the advantage to 9-6.
That immediately felt costly.
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After a quiet 8th, the Dodgers got something going again in the 9th, as Rojas drew a lead-off walk and was pinch-run for by Hyeseong Kim. Ohtani then doubled to drive Kim in to make it 9-7 and bring the tying run to the plate.
Shohei doubles to cut into the deficit thanks to a … route by Cruz in center. pic.twitter.com/u178f3532H
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) September 3, 2025
Two flyouts and a lineout later, though, and the game was over.
Somewhat rare game for the Dodgers of late where the top of the order hit like .500 today and the pitching staff just couldn’t stop the bleeding at any point.
— Chad Moriyama (@chadmoriyama.bsky.social) September 2, 2025 at 3:34 PM
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The Dodgers look to rebound yet again tomorrow at 12:40 PM HT/3:40 PM PT/6:40 PM ET on SNLA. It’ll be Shohei Ohtani on the bump against Braxton Ashcraft.
