Los Angeles, CA – Right-handed reliever Colin Holderman’s first appearance since coming off the injured list did not go as planned, as the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied in the eighth inning to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-4 on Saturday night.
Holderman, who had been sidelined since April 5th with a right knee sprain, was activated earlier in the day. Entering a 4-4 tie game in the bottom of the eighth, he was tasked with holding the Dodgers at bay. However, Teoscar Hernández greeted him with a go-ahead solo home run on just the second pitch of the at-bat.
The inning unraveled further for Holderman. He allowed a double to Tommy Edman and then walked Will Smith. Pirates manager Derek Shelton then made a pitching change, bringing in Joey Wentz. Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, pinch-hitter Kiké Hernández followed with a three-run home run off Wentz, extending the Dodgers’ lead to 8-4.
Holderman (0-1) was ultimately charged with three runs and the loss in his disappointing return.
Prior to Holderman’s outing, Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller delivered a quality start, going six innings while allowing four runs on seven hits and striking out four. Oneil Cruz provided offensive firepower for the Pirates, hitting a home run and accounting for three of their four runs batted in.
The Dodgers’ offense was led by Teoscar Hernández and Kiké Hernández, who each contributed home runs in the decisive eighth inning. Shohei Ohtani had a strong night as well, hitting a double and a triple, falling just a home run short of the cycle.
The Pirates had taken an early lead in the first inning when Cruz hit a leadoff home run. They added another run in the second and two more in the sixth to tie the game at four. However, the Dodgers’ late-inning rally proved to be the difference.
This loss snaps a two-game winning streak for the Pirates and gives the Dodgers the victory in the second game of their three-game series. The final game is scheduled for Sunday.
