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Dodgers dig out of early hole, hold on to beat Pirates

July 6, 2023

Dodgers relief pitcher Daniel Hudson, right, celebrates with catcher Will Smith after closing out the ninth inning with the bases loaded in their 6-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Dodgers starting pitcher Bobby Miller throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Bryan Reynolds hits a solo home run off of Dodgers starting pitcher Bobby Miller during the first inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Bryan Reynolds, right, heads to first as he watches the flight of the solo home run he hit off of Dodgers starting pitcher Bobby Miller during the first inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Bryan Reynolds, left, celebrates with teammate Carlos Santana after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Osvaldo Bido throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Dodgers star Mookie Betts walks to the dugout during the first inning of their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Dodgers starting pitcher Bobby Miller throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Jack Suwinski hits a three-run home run during the fourth inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Jack Suwinski, second from right, is congratulated by teammates Carlos Santana, center, and Henry Davis after hitting a three-run home run during the fourth inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Jack Suwinski, center, celebrates with teammates after hitting a three-run home run during the fourth inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

The Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas hits an RBI single during the fourth inning of their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

The Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas runs to first after hitting an RBI single during the fourth inning of their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

The Dodgers’ J.D. Martinez hits a go-ahead three-run home run during the fifth inning of their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

The Dodgers’ J.D. Martinez heads to first after base as he watches the flight of his go-ahead three-run home run during the fifth inning of their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Dodgers’ David Peralta hits a solo home run during the fifth inning of their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Dodgers’ David Peralta gestures as he rounds second base after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning of their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Dodgers’ David Peralta gestures as he scores after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning of their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Dodgers’ David Peralta celebrates after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning of their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

The Dodgers’ David Peralta gestures to fans as he scores after hitting a solo home run as Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Austin Hedges stands by during the fifth inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Dauri Moreta throws to the plate during the sixth inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Jack Suwinski dives but can’t get to a ball hit for a single by the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman during the sixth inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Jack Suwinski can’t get to a ball hit for a single by the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman during the sixth inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Dodgers relief pitcher Caleb Ferguson throws to the plate during the eighth inning of their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Dodgers relief pitcher Daniel Hudson throws to the plate during the ninth inning of their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Dodgers relief pitcher Daniel Hudson celebrates after closing out the ninth inning with the bases loaded in their 6-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

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LOS ANGELES — Make sure your lap bar is locked and in place. Keep your hands in the car at all times. Until (and if) the Dodgers solve their pitching problems, there could be a lot more games like this.

Rookie starter Bobby Miller gave up two home runs and spotted the Pittsburgh Pirates a four-run headstart. But the Dodgers came back to take the lead on back-to-back home runs by J.D. Martinez and David Peralta then twice survived bases-loaded, no-outs situations to preserve a 6-4 win on Wednesday night.

“We’re kind of in it right now,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the game, revealing that Brusdar Graterol has been unavailable the past two games and could land on the injured list on Thursday with an arm issue. “I wouldn’t say we’re limping to the break with the ’pen, but … they’re going to be short tomorrow. We have to find a way to piece it together. We need a big one from Julio (Urias) and find a way to win a ballgame.”

Ryan Brasier – released by the Boston Red Sox with a 7.29 ERA last month – and Daniel Hudson were the unlikely heroes of this bumpy ride for the Dodgers.

Brasier replaced Phil Bickford with the bases loaded and no outs in the seventh inning and escaped with the Dodgers’ two-run lead undiminished. Hudson created his own mess in the ninth, giving up a leadoff double and back-to-back walks before escaping to record his first save since June 8, 2022, before a torn ACL ended his season.

“I would like to have it been a little easier than that. But, hey, we got a W,” said Hudson, who choked up when talking about his latest long recovery (he has twice come back from Tommy John surgery).

“It was fun. Kind of like how I remembered it. It’s a pretty special feeling walking through those gates.”

The sight of the bullpen gates opening has stirred a lot of less uplifting emotions for the Dodgers this season.

“Guys are fighting. Guys are fighting,” Roberts said. “But I feel better than I did last night (after losing a ninth-inning lead).”

By recent standards, Miller actually gave the Dodgers a quality start against the Pirates, pitching into the sixth inning.

But he gave up a solo home run to Bryan Reynolds in the first inning and a three-run homer to Jack Suwinski in the fourth to put the Dodgers in an early 4-0 hole.

“Bad slider. Just a little bit of a misfire. Missed a spot,” Miller said of the three-run homer.

“I’m just figuring out who I am at this level, figuring out how to mix better at this level. I thought I did a better job of that today. I thought the fastball command was a little better today. I was able to move it around the whole strike zone. Just a couple bad pitches, I thought.”

Pirates rookie right-hander Osvaldo Bido gave the Dodgers a leg up on digging out of that hole. He walked Max Muncy and J.D. Martinez back-to-back to start the fourth inning then hit David Peralta with a pitch.

Jason Heyward turned one of those gifts into a run with a sacrifice fly and Miguel Rojas made it 4-2 with a two-out RBI single.

An inning later, second-year right-hander Roansy Contreras picked up where Bido left off. He walked Will Smith and Muncy back-to-back with one out then gave up a three-run home run to Martinez and a solo home run to Peralta that put the Dodgers in the lead.

Since May 1, Peralta is batting .343 (48 for 140) with five home runs and 21 RBIs. In that time, only Miami’s Luis Arraez (.363) has a higher batting average among players with at least 100 at-bats.

“I think it’s just more the confidence,” Roberts said of Peralta’s turnaround after a slow start. “Even a veteran player that has had success, when balls aren’t falling and you see a one handle on your average (an average under .200), you start to get frustrated. But then to his credit, he continued to work and persevered and found some outfield grass. Now you’re starting to see when he gets into good counts, he’s taking more chances out in front and tonight he did that hitting a homer.”

Bickford replaced Miller with two outs in the sixth but retired just one of the five batters he faced, leaving the game to Brasier with the bases loaded and no outs in the seventh. Brasier walked the tightrope, giving up two line drives – one to Rojas at shortstop (98.5 mph off the bat) and one to second baseman Mookie Betts – then getting Santana to pop out harmlessly.

“There’s just no panic,” Roberts said of Brasier. “I think Ryan pitched a good bit in Boston, so when you’re in that environment, you can pitch anywhere, and he showed that. We’ve used him a lot and for him to come in bases loaded and nobody out, that would’ve been the game. You don’t see too many times in a game where you see bases loaded and nobody out and you come away unscathed.”

You did Wednesday night.

After Caleb Ferguson handled the eighth, Hudson came in and gave up a leadoff double then walked back-to-back batters to load the bases.

“I think it was just adrenaline and trying not to make a mistake,” Hudson said. “Trying to get some weak contact or swing and miss. If I walk them, go get the next guy. Try to make a pitch on the next guy and go from there.”

Hudson struck out two of the next three batters to close it out. Afterward, bullpen coach Josh Bard brought Hudson a glass of bourbon to toast his return.

“It’s up there, for sure,” Hudson said of the emotions coming back from this injury compared to others. “The knee rehab for whatever reason was a little more frustrating than the elbow stuff. Obviously blowing out back to back – the second rehab was pretty straightforward and pretty easy. I didn’t have any setbacks.

“This was a lot more frustrating just because we were talking about six to nine, but my old ass couldn’t get back in nine. Thankfully we got there though.”

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— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) July 6, 2023