LIVE BLOGGING WITH EDDIE RIVERA | Skenes Makes the Scene

Paul Skenes outpitched the Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto in a highly anticipated duel Friday night at Dodger Stadium, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 3-0 victory over the Doyers in the opener of a three-game series.

Skenes, the Pirates’ 22-year-old rookie phenom, dominated from the outset, scattering five hits over 6 1/3 shutout innings. He struck out nine without issuing a walk, showcasing the overpowering fastball and sharp slider that made him the No. 1 overall pick in 2023.

Yamamoto, meanwhile, labored through a rocky five innings for Los Angeles. The Japanese right-hander allowed three runs, only one of them earned, on five hits and four walks, striking out five. A 32-pitch first inning set the tone for a night where the Dodgers never found a rhythm either on the mound or at the plate.

The Pirates struck first in the opening frame. After Yamamoto issued a leadoff walk to Oneil Cruz, the towering shortstop came around to score on a two-out RBI single by Enmanuel Valdez. Pittsburgh added two more runs in the fifth when a throwing error by Max Muncy extended the inning, allowing Henry Davis to reach second base. Cruz followed with a scorching RBI single to right, and Ke’Bryan Hayes plated another with a base hit to center.

Despite several opportunities, the Dodgers’ offense sputtered badly. Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Will Smith combined to go 0-for-12, while the team as a whole finished 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position. Freddie Freeman was a rare bright spot, collecting two of Los Angeles’ six hits.

Pittsburgh’s bullpen took over seamlessly after Skenes departed in the seventh. Ryan Borucki, Dauri Moreta, and David Bednar closed out the final 2 2/3 innings without incident. Bednar struck out Michael Conforto to end the game, earning his second save of the season.

The Dodgers, who were shut out for the second time in three games, have now lost three straight and four of their last five overall. They fell to 16-10 on the season while the Pirates improved to 11-16.

It marked the Pirates’ first shutout win at Dodger Stadium since 2009.

The series continues Saturday night, with Gavin Stone scheduled to start for Los Angeles against Pittsburgh’s Bailey Falter. The Dodgers will look to snap their skid and find some much-needed answers at the plate.

First pitch Saturday is scheduled for 6:10 p.m.

FIRST INNING
Top

Oneil Cruz has a count which is full. Walk. Walk. Walk.

Bryan Reynolds is at 1-2. Cruz steals second, per se. Reynolds flies way out to left-ish.

Andrew McCutchen is at 2-1.2-2. He is strickened out.

Emmanuel Valdez is at 1-2. Valdez singles, and Cruz cruises home (sorry).

Ke’Bryan Hayes (no relation) is at 2-2. He gets walked by Yamamoto. Runners on first as well as second as well as first.

Tommy Pham is at 1-2. He gets gone.

Pirates 1, Dodgers coming up.

Bottom

Shohei Ohtani flies out to center field.

Mookie Betts flies out to center field-adjacent.

Freddie Freeman strikes right out.

Pirates 1, Dodgers 0.

SECOND INNING
Top

Adam Frazier struts to first.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa (no relation) singles over Betts’ head into left.

Henry Davis (no relation) is safe at first after Frazier is gunned down (not literally) on his way to third.

Oneil Cruz (again? ) is at 1-1. He is mowing the air.

Reynolds is at 1-1. His count is full. He hits one right at Yoshi for out 3.

Bottom

Teoscar singles to right.

Tommy Edman strikes all the way out.

Will Smith is safe at first, while Teoscar is way out at second.

Conforto strikes SO out.

Pirates 1, Dodgers 0.

THIRD INNING
Top

McCutchen walks to begin the inning, and the Dodgers manage a double play to end the inning.

Pirates 1, Dodgers 0.

Bottom

Max Muncy (no relation) flies out west of center field.

Andy Pages doubles to right field.

Ohtani bunts for a double, but Pages gets caught in a rundown.

Betts grounds out to, well, does it matter?

Pirates 1, Dodgers 0.

FOURTH INNING
Top

Pham Phlies out.

Frazier is out at first.

Kiner-Falefa (still no relation) is done. 1-2-3 inning.

Pirates 1, Dodgers 0.

Bottom

Freeman triples. To third.

Teoscar no go.

Edman strikes out.

Smith files out. Freeman is so stranded.

Pirates 1, Dodgers 0.

FIFTH INNING
Top

Davis reaches first on an error by Freeman

Oneil Cruz singles, and scores Davis.

Reynolds strikes out.

McCutchen singles.

Valdez reaches first, but McCutchen is caught at second.

Hayes singles up the middle and the Pirates methodically continue to score.

Pham grounds out.

Pirates 3, Dodgers 0.

Bottom

Conforto has one of those full count things. Not anymore.

Muncy is at 2-1. Out. So very out.

Pages doubles, deep in the left field corner.

Ohtani strikes out.

Pirates 3, Dodgers 0

SIXTH INNING
Top

Alex Vescia is now pitching for the Dodgers, replacing Yama-you-know-who.

Frazier singles.

Kiner-Falefa flies way out to Pages. Frazier is caught trying to steal.

Davis is out at first.

Pirates 3, Dodgers 0.

Bottom

Betts flies out to center.

Freeman singles to left. La la la…

Teoscar is at 2-2. He flies out to left of left.

Edman strikes out.

Pirates 3, Dodgers 0.

SEVENTH INNING
Top

Luis Garcia is pitching for the Dodgers.

Cruz grounds out to Edman.

Reynolds also grounds out to Edman. And Freeman.

McCutchen flies out to center.

Bottom

Skenes is done for the night, a job well well done.

Conforto is done at first

Muncy and Pages are both pretty much out.

Pirates 3, Dodgers 0.

EIGHTH INNING
Top

Noah Davis now pitching for the Dodgers.

Valdez is at 2-1. And the count is full. He walks.

Hayes is struckened out. Rookie Davis gets his first major league pitching assignment, his first walk and his first strike out.

Pham strikes out. Pinch runner Triolo steals second.

Frazier has a full count. He flies out to center. Davis’ Dodger gig is still good.

Pirates 3, Dodgers 0.

Bottom

Pages singles to short center field.

Ohtani flies out to center.

Pages thrown out at second. Betts safe at first.

Freeman flies out.

Pirates 3, Dodgers 0.

NINTH INNING
Top

Kiner-Falefa is out.

Davis is hit by a pitch.

Cruz hits into a double play.

Pirates 3, Dodgers 0.

Bottom

David Bednar is pitching for the Pirates.

Teoscar flies out really high.

Edman has a full count. Walking close to midnight…

Will Smith is at 1-2. 2-2.

Conforto strikes out. Not very confortably.

FINAL: Pirates 3, Dodgers 0.