Dodgers’ Tarik Skubal flashes vintage form with 11k performance vs. Pirates

Los Angeles Dodgers trade deadline acquisition Tarik Skubal on Saturday put together his best outing since joining the organization, overcoming a difficult first inning to help the team defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 at Dodger Stadium. The left-hander allowed three runs in the opening frame but did not surrender another run across his final six innings, finishing with 11 strikeouts, five hits and one walk over seven innings.

Skubal was tested immediately as Esmerlyn Valdez and Bryan Reynolds opened the first inning with consecutive singles. Oneil Cruz then produced a two-run triple to right with a 114 mph exit velocity, and Rafael Flores Jr. followed with an RBI groundout to give Pittsburgh a 3-0 advantage.

The early trouble did not continue. Skubal opened the second inning by allowing consecutive singles to Nick Yorke and Jared Triolo, but he stranded runners at second and third after recording his first two strikeouts. From there, he retired 18 of his final 19 hitters, with Valdez’s fifth-inning walk being the only exception.

Skubal struck out the side in the sixth inning during a 14-pitch sequence that included a 100 mph fastball. That pitch was his hardest since joining the Dodgers and the second-hardest pitch of his season. He finished with 11 strikeouts, one shy of his season high of 12 and two short of his career best.

The improvement was particularly significant after opponents had success the first time through the lineup. Pirates hitters went 5-for-9 with three runs and no strikeouts in their first looks against Skubal. Over their second and third trips, they went 0-for-17 with no runs and 11 strikeouts.

While Skubal controlled the game, Los Angeles erased the early deficit. Teoscar Hernandez and newly recalled Alek Thomas delivered consecutive RBI singles in the fourth inning to make it 3-2. Kyle Tucker then put the Dodgers ahead in the fifth with a two-run single, ending an 0-for-25 home stretch.

Skubal completed seven innings on 106 pitches, earning his first victory as a Dodger. Tanner Scott closed the 4-3 win with his 19th save. The victory was Los Angeles’ fifth straight and ninth in its last 12 games.

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