LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jack Flaherty struck out 10 in his Dodger Stadium debut, Shohei Ohtani’s two-run homer highlighted a five-run third inning and Los Angeles beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-5 on Friday night. It was a needed win for the NL West-leading Dodgers after San Diego and Arizona also won. The Dodgers' lead over the Padres is 2 1/2 games, their slimmest in months.
“We're very aware of it,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “That just puts the onus on us to play good baseball.” Flaherty (9-5) got the victory in his first start at home since joining the Dodgers from Detroit before last month's trade deadline.
The native of nearby Burbank made his first appearance at the stadium as a 6-month-old when his mother brought him to a game. “It was a lot of fun,” Flaherty said. “It's a special thing.
Just enjoying every second of it.” Flaherty was applauded when he exited with two outs in the sixth and the Dodgers ahead 9-4. The right-hander allowed four runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings while throwing a season and team-high 110 pitches.
“Jack was good, just a solid performance,” Roberts said. “One thing I have learned so far about Jack is a situation, a moment isn't going to be too big for him. He has the ability to make pitches when he needs to and that's huge.
” Ohtani's 448-foot shot to center scored Andy Pages, who walked against Mitch Keller (10-6). Will Smith added a two-run single and Miguel Rojas had a two-out RBI single that extended the le.