The Los Angeles Dodgers rolled into Pittsburgh on Tuesday night and left PNC Park with a 12-3 victory that underscored both the potency of their lineup and the fragility of the Pirates’ relief corps.
Bullpen breakdown fuels Dodgers' blowout
For Paul Skenes, the outing marked his first quality start in almost a month, a milestone that seemed within reach until the seventh inning unraveled his effort.
The early going hinted at fireworks when Bryan Reynolds and Ryan O’Hearn launched back-to-back homers, instantly flipping the scoreboard in Pittsburgh’s favor.
However, the Dodgers’ bullpen could not contain the Pirates’ offense, as Wilber Dotel and Brandan Bidois combined to surrender ten runs in the seventh, turning a tight contest into a rout.
The collapse extended Pittsburgh’s losing streak to four games and, ominously, to five consecutive starts by Skenes, a statistic that will weigh heavily on the clubhouse.
Adding to the narrative, Shohei Ohtani is slated to start for Los Angeles in the next meeting, promising a dual threat on the mound and at the plate that could further tilt the balance.
Meanwhile, the Pirates announced the trade of Triple-A right-hander Carson Fulmer to the Seattle Mariners, a move that signals a reshaping of their pitching depth.
Statistically, the Dodgers out-hit Pittsburgh 15-5 and posted a ten-run inning for the first time since July 29, 2019, a reminder of how quickly a game can swing when relief falters.