Dodgers edge Bucs in 10-inning nail-biter

May 10th, 2017

LOS ANGELES -- Pinch-hitter , the last position player on the bench, doubled home pinch-running pitcher with two out in the 10th inning Tuesday night as the Dodgers stunned the Pirates, 4-3, at Dodger Stadium.
Stripling was running for , whose first hit of the game was a two-run homer in the fourth inning and third hit was a leadoff single off in the 10th. Stripling was still at first base after Chris Taylor and struck out, but he raced home on Barnes' third RBI of the season.
"I know Ross is fast," said Barnes. "Thankfully he is fast."

Stripling said he was just glad he didn't have to slide at home.
"I picked up [third-base coach Chris Woodward] halfway and saw him send me and thought, 'OK, I'm going to have to slide,' which, no joke, I haven't done since 8th grade," said Stripling. "Luckily, I didn't have to slide. That was probably a new gear I hit."
"I told Ross about 3 o'clock he might be pinch-running tonight, so he's been stretching for 7 1/2 hours," said manager Dave Roberts. "With a short bench, you've got to manufacture. It worked out."
Dodgers starter had a no-hitter through six innings until led off the seventh with a ground-rule double that bounced into the left-field box seats. Trying to make the catch, left fielder suffered a right leg injury on the warning track and was replaced by . According to Statcast™, Toles had to cover 79 feet in 4.2 second for only an 8 percent catch probability.

"Very efficient," said Pirates manager Clint Hurdle of Urias. "He kept his fastball velocity up all night. His changeup is a very effective pitch, and he threw it on both sides of the plate. Impressive."
Urias got the next batter on a lineout, then was replaced by . Romo gave up a sinking liner to that Hernandez appeared to lose in the lights.The ball rolled to the fence, scoring McCutchen. replaced Romo and gave up a flare single to pinch-hitter that scored Cervelli to tie the game. It was Moroff's first Major League hit.
Pinch-hitter 's gave the Pirates a 3-2 lead with a solo homer in the eighth inning. The towering solo shot was tracked by Statcast™ with exit velocity of 105.8 mph and a launch angle of 40 degrees as it traveled an estimated 375 feet, putting it into the Pirates' bullpen just out of the reach of leaping Puig.
"I got under it," Jaso said. "It actually didn't go as far as I thought it would. Fortunately it went far enough." 

The Dodgers tied the game against Pirates closer Tony Watson in the bottom of the ninth with consecutive singles by , (misplayed by right fielder ) and . According to Statcast™, the hits by Turner and Bellinger had hit probabilities of 7 percent and 15 percent, respectively, and a 96 percent catch probability for Polanco on Turner's missed fly ball.
"I was too far back," Polanco said. "I was playing no-doubles [defense]."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Walks will kill you: Pirates starter issued only one walk in his first six starts this season, but Cody Bellinger was his second walk of the night leading off the fourth inning. One out later, Grandal's homer gave the Dodgers a 2-0 lead.

Patience of Yas: Before the game, Roberts said Grandal needed to be more patient. So on a 2-0 pitch, he unloaded his fourth homer of the season, but only second since he slugged a pair on Opening Day. This one had an exit velocity of 103.3 mph, a launch angle of 30 degrees and was estimated by Statcast™ to travel 408 feet.
QUOTABLE
"As good as he pitched, I still think there's more in there." -- Roberts, on Urias
Urias' potential on display during no-hit bid

UPON FURTHER REVIEW
The Dodgers thought their ninth-inning rally was still alive when it was initially ruled beat the relay to first for a double play. The Pirates challenged the call, and it was overturned after review, resulting in the double play to end the inning.

WHAT'S NEXT
Pirates: will take a deceptive 5.54 ERA into his seventh start, 9:10 p.m. ET Wednesday at Dodger Stadium. Kuhl has allowed 16 earned runs in 26 innings, but nine earned runs came in just 1 2/3 innings April 24 against the Cubs. Has allowed two runs or fewer in his other five starts.
Dodgers: starts for the Dodgers in the 7:10 p.m. PT series finale with his slot in the rotation likely on the line after manager Dave Roberts expressed his disappointment with the last two innings of Maeda's most recent start.
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