LOS ANGELES -- The third time through the order is typically one of the steeper challenges for starting pitchers, as opposing batters have seen all they can from them at that point. But on Saturday evening, Tarik Skubal was at his best by the time the Pirates' starting nine came to the plate for the third time.
Skubal recovered from giving up a three-spot in the first inning to earn his first win as a Dodger. The left-hander did not allow another run after the opening frame, striking out 11 while scattering five hits and a walk across seven innings in a 4-3 victory over the Pirates at Dodger Stadium.
"I always think it’s important for any pitcher to see how you respond to those moments, getting punched in the mouth," Skubal said. "I think that’s when the true who-you-really-are kind of shows out. And yeah, that’s something I take a ton of pride in."
Said manager Dave Roberts: "That's the guy that we needed."
The Pirates did their damage against Skubal the first time through the order, but they could hardly touch him afterward.
First time: 5-for-9, three runs, zero strikeouts
Second and third times: 0-for-17, zero runs, 11 strikeouts
“I don’t think that our approach changed," Pirates manager Don Kelly said. "I think that he adjusted, and we did not do a good job of adjusting back.”
In the first inning, Skubal allowed three straight one-out hits that led to an early lead for the Pirates. Esmerlyn Valdez and Bryan Reynolds hit consecutive singles before Oneil Cruz smoked a two-run triple at 114 mph off the bat. Cruz scored on a groundout to cap the early onslaught.
Skubal opened the second inning by giving up back-to-back base hits, to Nick Yorke and Jared Triolo. But after a sacrifice bunt from nine-hole hitter Henry Davis moved both runners into scoring position, he settled down. Skubal retired 18 of his final 19 batters, including Davis, only allowing Valdez to reach on a walk in the fifth inning.
"Early in games, I might just be trying to feel it out too much instead of just competing with what I got in that moment," Skubal said. "That's something that I need to make a change for."
Skubal struck out the side in the sixth inning, reaching back for 100 mph -- his second-hardest pitch of the season -- to retire Jake Mangum on a foul tip for his 11th strikeout, his most as a Dodger. He went on to complete seven innings for the first time since he was traded from the Tigers, walking off the mound to a loud ovation from his new home fans.
In Skubal's first three starts as a Dodger, he completed six innings twice and five innings once. He lamented that he was unable to pitch deeper into those games. His performance on Saturday was closer to the high standard that he sets for himself.
"He's given us some really good starts since he's come over here, and obviously, he's one of the best pitchers in the league for a reason," said Kyle Tucker, whose two-run single in the fifth snapped an 0-for-26 slump at home and drove in the eventual winning run. "Him coming back, especially after that first inning, and putting up a lot of zeros after that was huge."
For a Dodgers team that is still getting to know how Skubal operates, watching the way he competes has given them valuable insight into what he's capable of over the course of a start. He threw his two hardest pitches of the game in the sixth and seventh innings on Saturday, a trend that has carried over from his previous starts with L.A.
"You can see that when he needs to reach back for more, it's in there," Roberts said.
At the same time, Skubal is learning how the Dodgers operate. He has had to adapt to changes on and off the field in the whirlwind weeks that followed his trade, which can be a challenge in its own right. Amid all that, he has to perform when he takes the mound.
As Skubal and the Dodgers go through that process, it raises the bar for both player and team.
“I think everybody in here, we’re constantly kind of learning each other and developing relationships," Skubal said. "Those are important to have going forward, especially if we want to go where we want to go, just developing those relationships and understanding what adjustments need to be made."