Pirates rookie Tyler Callihan goes deep off Shohei Ohtani, adds a 3-run shot to beat Dodgers
PITTSBURGH — Tyler Callihan hit the first two home runs of his career, a solo shot off Shohei Ohtani in the fourth inning and a go-ahead, three-run blast off reliever Kyle Hurt in the eighth as the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied past the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-8 Wednesday night.
Ohtani gave up season highs in runs (four), earned runs (three), and hits (six) in 6 2/3 innings as his ERA ticked up to 1.06. The four-time MVP struck out six and walked three before being removed following Brandon Lowe's two-out, two-run double in the seventh.
Ohtani hit a two-run homer off Gregory Soto in the ninth, his 12th of the season, to draw the Dodgers within one. Soto retired the next two batters for his ninth save.
A Los Angeles comeback hardly seemed necessary when Ohtani exited with a 6-3 lead, seemingly in position to win his fifth straight start.
Callihan, a utility player, sent a fastball from Ohtani 427 feet over the right-field stands at PNC Park. With two on and nobody out in the eighth, Callihan pounced on a changeup from Hurt (1-1) to give the Pirates their first lead at 7-6. Spencer Horwitz added a two-run shot later in the inning off Jack Dreyer as Pittsburgh ended a four-game skid.
Evan Sisk (1-0) got the final out of the eighth.
Ryan Ward hit his first career grand slam for the Dodgers, a liner to the seats in right in the sixth that gave Los Angeles a 6-1 lead.
The Pirates, who gave up 10 runs in the seventh inning of a blowout loss on Tuesday, responded in the eighth to win for just the third time this season when trailing after seven innings.
The series wraps up Thursday. Justin Wrobleski (7-2, 2.62 ERA) starts for Los Angeles against Pittsburgh's Mitch Keller (5-3, 4.81).
