Cruz Clutch but Not Enough as Pirates Fall to Dodgers in Extras

Oneil Cruz hit a late home run and made a clutch sliding catch late but the Pirates were defeated 5-4 by the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Friday night.

Top 1st, 1-0 PIT: Nick Gonzales got the Pirates (63-67) on the board with an RBI single in the first inning off Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Brandon Lowe scored.

Bottom 1st, 2-1 LAD: The Dodgers (78-51) took the lead in the bottom of the inning off Bubba Chandler. Max Muncy hit a two-run home run to right field.

Top 3rd, 2-2: Gonzales tied the game with an RBI single to center. He drove in Lowe for the second time.

Bottom 3rd, 4-2 LAD: As they did two innings prior, the Dodgers struck back immediately. Mookie Betts singled to center and a pair of runs scored.

Top 8th, 4-4: With hope dwindling, Oneil Cruz tied the game with a 424-foot two-run home run to center field off Kyle Hurt.

Bottom 10th, 5-4 LAD: The Pirates were one strike away from forcing an 11th inning, but Tommy Edman lined an RBI single to right field off Gregory Soto (5-4).

The Pirates had the bases loaded with one out in the top of the 10th but Evan Phillips (1-2) got Henry Davis to bounce into an inning-ending double play.

Tommy Edman had a pair of hits, one of which was the game-winner.

Bubba Chandler hadn’t allowed a home run in any of his last six starts before Max Muncy took him deep in the first. The last home run he gave up was on July 5 at the Nationals.

• Bubba Chandler: 4.0 innings, four hits, four runs, two walks, six strikeouts, 88 pitches/51 strikes
• Oneil Cruz: 1 for 3, one home run, two walks, two RBI, one run
• Bryan Reynolds: 2 for 4, one double, one run
• Brandon Lowe: 2 for 5, one double, two runs
• Nick Gonzales: 2 for 5, two RBI

• Nick Gonzales’ 50 multi-hit games lead MLB. That’s the most for a Pirate in a season since Andrew McCutchen had 60 in 2013.
• OF Johnathan Rodríguez was claimed off waivers by the Athletics. He was designated for assignment by the Pirates on Monday.

RHP Jared Jones (2-5, 4.78 ERA) takes the mound for the Pirates on Saturday. Back-to-back AL Cy Young Winner LHP Tarik Skubal (7-7, 2.85 ERA) starts for the Dodgers. First pitch: 7:15 p.m. ET on FOX/93.7 The Fan.

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