LOS ANGELES—Leaving 12 runners stranded on base is not a recipe for success, however, the Dodgers were able to win in spite of this ignominious distinction when Ross Stripling was sent home by Austin Barnes’ 10th inning walk-off double.
“I knew I hit it in the gap pretty well,” Barnes said. “I know Ross is fast, but being on the bases for a pitcher is not the most comfortable thing in the world, so thankfully he’s pretty fast and he got around the bases.”
Stripling, who plays pitcher, isn’t a normal call for a pinch runner. However, manager Dave Roberts had the foresight to warn the pitcher earlier in the day that he might be running the bases.
“It’s like he knew something was coming,” Stripling said.
The Pirates spent the majority of the game scoreless thanks to Julio Urias’ stellar game. The 20 year-old carried a no hit bid until the 7th inning when Andrew McCutchen ended it with a ground rule double. Urias gave up only one run off two hits and two walks in six and one-third innings. He also struck out five batters. Although the youngster didn’t record the win, he did enough to impress the opposing manager.
“His changeup was a very effective pitch,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “Very good command of his changeup tonight. He threw to both sides of the plate, for a 20-year-old kid, that’s impressive.”
Yasmani Grandal gave the Dodgers a 2-0 lead after he hit a two run shot in the fourth inning. Their lead was erased in the seventh though after Francisco Cervelli sent McCuthen home with a double. Enrique Hernandez hit the fence trying to defend the ball and was forced to leave the game with an injury. Max Moroff sent Cervelli home with a single and the game was tied 2-2. In the eighth inning the Pirates gained their first lead of the day, 3-2, when Pedro Baesz came on in relief for the Dodgers and surrendered a home run to John Jaso.
Written By John Broadway