Back-to-back jacks lift weary Dodgers pitching staff

LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stopped short of saying his pitching staff, because of injuries and recent usage, is limping into the All-Star break. But that’s exactly what’s happening.

Over the next few weeks and months, the Dodgers are hoping to get reinforcements on that side of the ball. One area Los Angeles hasn’t had to worry about this season is an offense that ranks among the league’s best in just about every category.

In their 6-4 win over the Pirates on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers leaned on that potent offense once again as back-to-back homers by J.D. Martinez and David Peralta helped the club erase an early four-run deficit.

“It’s been really impressive,” Roberts said of the offense. “I think if you look at our lineup, it’s been very top-heavy. But as of late, the guys from six through nine, namely David and Jason [Heyward], have really picked us up.”

What has been impressive about the Dodgers’ offense is they have shown the ability to hurt opponents in multiple ways. In the fourth inning, the Dodgers used two walks to start a rally that ultimately plated two runs, cutting the deficit to 4-2.

In the fifth, they turned to the long ball, which has been a massive weapon for them all season. Martinez had the big swing with a three-run homer off Roansy Contreras to give the Dodgers the lead. Peralta then followed with a long and loud homer for added insurance. It was the eighth time the Dodgers have hit back-to-back homers this season.

“The last few days, James [Outman] has swung the bat well, and [Miguel] Rojas is starting to come to life, too,” Roberts said. “Those have been big in order to add that length that we talk about in our lineup.”

That offensive firepower was enough for Bobby Miller and the Dodgers’ bullpen to hold on to a much-needed victory.

Miller’s outing got off to a rough start, as a homer by Bryan Reynolds in the first inning and a fourth-inning Jack Suwinski three-run homer put the Dodgers behind 4-0. But Miller was able to settle down and give the Dodgers some much-needed length, going 5 2/3 innings. Los Angeles starters hadn’t gone more than four innings in each of the prior four games.

“If you give up three or four runs, you’re always going to have a chance with this team,” Miller said. “I would like to do better, but you just have to build off that.”

Miller’s ability to pitch into the sixth allowed the Dodgers to piece things together in the bullpen. In the seventh, things got dicey when Phil Bickford loaded up the bases with nobody out. But Roberts turned to veteran right-hander Ryan Brasier, who retired all three batters he faced and got out of the inning without giving up a run.

In the ninth, Daniel Hudson wanted to imitate that performance. En route to earning his first save since June 8, 2022, Hudson had some expected jitters coming into the ninth inning, and it showed with his command. He gave up a leadoff double and then walked his next two batters.

That's where the shakiness ended. Hudson struck out Henry Davis, got Carlos Santana to fly out to shallow left field and rung up Suwinski to end the night.

“I would like to have [had] it been a little easier than that,” Hudson said with a smile. “But hey, we got a 'W.' It is what it is.”

This was the type of game the Dodgers have given up far too many times this season, but behind a team effort, they were able to close things out. That challenge will get even tougher on Thursday, however, as they might be without Brusdar Graterol, who could land on the injured list with an undisclosed arm injury. Yency Almonte is also likely to be placed on the paternity list as he welcomes the birth of his first child.

“We’re kind of in it right now,” Roberts said. “We’ve got three games left [in the first half], and the expectation is to win three. … We have to find a way to piece it together. We need a big one from Julio [Urías] and find a way to win a ballgame.”