Pirates Spoil Anderson's Return, Beat Dodgers 11-3
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Josh Harrison and Adam Frazier each had four hits, Sean Rodriguez homered and had four RBIs and the Pittsburgh Pirates spoiled Brett Anderson's return with a five-run first inning in an 11-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.
Rodriguez had a three-run homer and Jordy Mercer a two-run shot in the first to chase Anderson (0-1) from his first start since last October. Anderson returned after having back surgery in March and left following one inning with a mild left wrist sprain.
Jung Ho Kang added a solo homer during a four-run ninth to help Pittsburgh win for the fifth time in seven games against the Dodgers this season.
Rookie Chad Kuhl (3-0) won his third consecutive start, holding the Dodgers to two runs and six hits over six innings.
Joc Pederson hit his second homer in two games for the Dodgers, who've lost three of their last four but remained one game back of San Francisco in the NL West. The Giants lost 8-7 to Baltimore.
One day after equaling a franchise record by stranding 18 baserunners, the Pirates had 16 hits and five walks. After Harrison singled on Anderson's first pitch of the game, Mercer hit a 3-2 pitch into the left-field bleachers for his eighth home run.
Five batters later, Rodriguez hit his 12th homer, driving a 2-0 pitch out to right to give Pittsburgh a 5-0 lead.
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LEADING OFF
Harrison has a .356 average (21 for 59) in 13 games as the leadoff hitter. He's also scored 12 runs.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Pirates: OF Starling Marte, who left Saturday's game in the eighth inning with upper back discomfort, was a late scratch from the Pirates' starting lineup. He was replaced in left field by Frazier. C Chris Stewart was expected to make his second rehab start for Double-A Altoona on Sunday.
Dodgers: 3B Justin Turner missed his second consecutive game with a right hand contusion. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expects Turner back in the starting lineup on Tuesday in Philadelphia. ... RHP Bud Norris gave up one run and four hits in 5 2/3 innings in a rehab start Saturday for Class A Rancho Cucamonga. Norris will return to the Dodgers rotation on Thursday.
UP NEXT
Pirates: RHP Ryan Vogelsong (1-2, 2.67) pitches against San Francisco on Monday, making his first start against his former team since re-joining the Pirates at the beginning of the season. Vogelsong joined the Giants in 2011 after pitching in Japan for four years and won two World Series.
Dodgers: RHP Kenta Maeda faces the Phillies for the second time in a week in Philadelphia on Tuesday. The rookie notched his 11th win of the season on Tuesday at home against the Phillies, giving up three runs and six hits over five innings.
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