Chris Taylor #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the sixth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on June 8, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Ke’Bryan Hayes hastily missed first base and was called out after hitting a first-inning homer, sending Walker Buehler on his way to seven scoreless innings as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-3 Tuesday night.
The Pirates star rookie stung an opposite-field line drive in the first inning against Buehler that narrowly cleared the right-field wall, just inside the foul pole. Running hard and with his eyes on the ball, Hayes missed touching first base with his left foot by two or three inches and kept on going.
Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts challenged, and umpires overturned the call after a short video review.
Buehler (5-0) retired his last 13 batters and had two hits to raise his career batting average to .124. He allowed two hits, struck out two and walked one while throwing 93 pitches.
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Hayes was also thrown out at second base trying to tag up from first on a flyout to left field to end the third inning, over sliding the bag.
The 24-year-old Hayes — son of 14-year big leaguer Charlie Hayes — hit .376 with five homers in 24 games last season and entered 2021 as a heavy favorite to win NL Rookie of the Year. He sprained his left wrist in Pittsburgh’s second game and missed two months, finally returning to action last week.
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Pirates rookie JT Brubaker (4-5) shut out the Dodgers through four innings but did not make it out of the fifth, when Los Angeles scored three times.
AJ Pollock doubled home the first run and came in on Mookie Betts’ RBI triple to center field past a diving Bryan Reynolds. Chasen Shreve relieved and allowed Max Muncy’s run-scoring single.
Chris Taylor’s two-run homer to left-center field in the sixth inning off Chris Stratton raised the Dodgers’ lead to 5-0.
Pittsburgh ruined the shutout in the eighth inning when Adam Frazier hit a run-scoring double off Joe Kelly to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. Reynolds and pinch-hitter Michael Perez hit solo hone runs in the ninth inning off Nate Jones to cut the Pirates' deficit to 5-3.
Kenley Jansen came on to get the last out for his 13th save.
Brubaker gave up three runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings while striking out six and walking none. He was pitching for the first time since May 29 after spending time on the bereavement list following the death of his grandmother.
Los Angeles had lost six of its previous nine games.
The start of the game was delayed 30 minutes by rain.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: RHP Tony Gonsolin (right shoulder inflammation) is expected to be activated from the injured list Wednesday and make his season debut by starting against the Pirates. ... Muncy went 2 for 5 in returning to the lineup after sitting out a game with right ankle pain. ... SS Corey Seager’s broken right hand is healing faster than expected, according to Roberts, but there is no timetable for the return of last year’s World Series MVP. ... LHP Garrett Cleavinger (left forearm inflammation) pitched one scoreless inning in his first game on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Pirates: RHP Mitch Keller was activated from the COVID-19 injured list and INF/OF Phillip Evans from the IL. Keller is scheduled to start Thursday against the Dodgers. ... LHP Austin Davis was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis and INF Wilmer Difo was designated for assignment.
UP NEXT
Gonsolin was 6-4 with a 2.60 ERA in 20 games, including 14 starts, last season as a rookie. LHP Tyler Anderson (3-5, 4.67) will start for the Pirates after losing three of his last four decisions.
