Pirates end Dodgers winning streak
PITTSBURGH -- Jung Ho Kang and Matt Joyce hit homers and manager Clint Hurdle got the 1,000th win of his career Friday as the Pittsburgh Pirates ended the Los Angeles Dodgers' six-game winning streak with an 8-6 win.
Hurdle joined Bruce Bochy (1,749), Dusty Baker (1,714), Mike Scioscia (1,447), Buck Showalter (1,381) and Terry Francona (1,328) as the only six active managers with 1,000 wins. He is 1,000-1,043 but has won 315 games with the Pirates over the past four seasons; only the Cardinals (325) and Dodgers (319) have won more games in that time.
Sean Rodriguez drove in three runs for Pittsburgh, which snapped a three-game losing streak but is 7-21 since a five-game winning streak in May.
Dodgers right-hander Nick Tepesch lasted just four innings, allowing four runs on five hits. He was called up for the start, his first in the major leagues since September 2014. He did not play in 2015 because elbow issues and spent the 2016 season in Triple-A before making his 40th career big league start Friday.
Pittsburgh rookie Jameson Taillon, making his fourth start, didn't last much longer. He left three batters into the fifth when he failed to get an out. He allowed four runs on eight hits.
Pittsburgh led 7-4 through five innings before Yasiel Puig launched a 439-foot solo homer into the upper tier of the bleachers in left in the sixth. That gave Los Angeles a streak of 14 games with a homer, tying Washington for the longest such streak this season. Later that inning, Justin Turner drove in a run on a sacrifice fly to pull the Dodgers within 7-6.
Matt Joyce hit a solo homer to lead off the Pirates seventh and make it 8-6.
Pittsburgh lit up Tepesch for four runs on five hits in the second.
Rodriguez's base hit to center drove in Matt Joyce, who had doubled to the North Side notch, and Jordy Mercer, who had singled, for a 2-0 lead. Two strikeouts later, John Jaso's single to left brought home Rodriguez, and Starling Marte's double scored Jaso.
Los Angeles immediately got two back. Justin Turner doubled in Corey Seager, who also had doubled, moved to third on a groundout and scored when Taillon awkwardly stumbled off of the mound for a balk, making it 4-2.
Jung Ho Kang homered just inside the foul pole in left to lead off the Pirates third and push the lead to 5-2.
Taillon left in the fifth after giving up a run on a walk, double and single. Adrian Gonzalez drove in another that inning with a sacrifice fly to bring the Dodgers to within 5-4.
Pittsburgh restored a bit more of a cushion with two runs in the fifth on Joyce's bloop RBI single to left scored Rodriguez's RBI sacrifice fly. That extended the lead to 7-4.
NOTES: The Dodgers, as expected, selected the contract of RHP Nick Tepesch from Triple-A Oklahoma and gave him the start. ... Los Angeles designated OF Will Venable for assignment. ... Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said RHP Frankie Montas had a recurrence or similar injury to the rib problem he had previously. There is no determination on how long Montas will be out or whether he might need surgery. ... Pirates RF Gregory Polanco was not in the lineup. He has left leg discomfort and was replaced by Matt Joyce. ... LF Starling Marte (left foot) returned to the Pittsburgh lineup. ... Pirates RHP Juan Nicasio (family matter) was reinstated from the restricted list and moved to the bullpen. ... The Pirates selected INF/OF Adam Frazier from Triple-A Indianapolis. ... Pittsburgh RHP Jorge Rondon was designated for assignment. ... Pirates C Jacob Stallings was optioned to Indianapolis. ... Pittsburgh INF Cole Figueroa was designated for assignment. ... The Pirates have not named a starter for Sunday night's game. One option is Chad Kuhl, who is 6-2 with a 1.19 ERA for Indianapolis.