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Tarik Skubal hadn’t delivered a signature outing, nor had he earned a win, over his first three starts with the Dodgers.
And six minutes into Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the two-time defending American League Cy Young Award winner seemed on his way to his worst performance yet with his new club, giving up three runs on three hits.
Then, the left-hander that manager Dave Roberts has been waiting for finally arrived, giving up just two hits over the next six innings while striking out 11 in a 4-3 win.
“Obviously the first inning didn’t go great,” Roberts said after the series-clinching win. “But just seeing him on the attack after they got those two runners on in the second inning — from that point on, it was a different pitcher.
“Yeah, that’s the guy that we needed; completing seven innings, reset the bullpen; great outing.”
Shoehi Ohtani threw live batting practice for the first time since sustaining a knee injury that has kept him out of the Dodgers’ rotation since July.
Skubal finally looked like himself, earning a standing ovation as he walked off the field in the seventh.
“It feels good, obviously, to get the first one out of the way,” said Skubal as “Scooby Doo Pa Pa” by DJ Kass blared in the clubhouse. “I didn’t do a good job early in the game, but the boys picked me up and were able to keep us in a game. The offense got going, and that’s all we needed to get a win today.”
Kyle Tucker was one of the Dodgers (79-51) who got going.
Riding an 0-for-26 drought and hitting below the Mendoza Line at home, Tucker delivered a go-ahead, two-run single off Yohan Ramirez in the fifth, giving the Dodgers a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
1. Kyle Tucker runs to first base after hitting a go-ahead, two-run single against the Pirates in the fifth inning Saturday. 2. Tucker gets a pat on the back from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts after the Dodgers’ win. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
“I don’t, like, keep up with the stats like that,” Tucker said. “I’m just trying to go up there … try and have a quality at-bat, whether it’s working a long at-bat or drawing a walk, getting ahead [or] moving guys over.”
Roberts has been outspoken in his support of Tucker and was thrilled to see the four-time All-Star have a good moment in front of the 12th sold-out crowd at Dodger Stadium this season.
