August 14, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Chad Kuhl (39) throws in the fourth inning against Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
LOS ANGELES — Jody Mercer and Sean Rodriguez hit decisive first-inning home runs and Chad Kuhl surrendered six hits in six innings as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 11-3 on Sunday at Dodger Stadium.
Kuhl (3-0) won his second game against Los Angeles this season and Pittsburgh has won all six of his career starts.
Dating to 1930, this is the second longest streak among Pittsburgh starting pitchers. The Pirates won each of the first seven starts that Jim Nelson made in 1970 between June 15 and July 17.
Kuhl pitched comfortably after being staked to a big early lead, striking out five and walking none in 102 pitches.
The Pirates took advantage of a short-lived comeback started by the Dodgers’ Brett Anderson to win the series and draw within a game of the St. Louis Cardinals for the second NL wild-card berth. Pittsburgh has won six of its last nine games.
Rodriguez had four RBIs, and Josh Harrison and Adam Frazier each added four hits to pace the Pirates’ 16-hit attack.
Anderson (0-1) was sidelined after back surgery in March and had three minor-league starts before his unsuccessful debut. He exited for precautionary reasons after mildly straining his left wrist while attempting to field Frazier’s infield single after Pittsburgh’s five-run first inning. He surrendered five hits and walked one throwing just 30 pitches.
Los Angeles remained one game behind the National League West-leading San Francisco Giants and have a comfortable four-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals for the first wild-card playoff position. The Dodgers start a seven-game road trip in Philadelphia on Tuesday.
Pittsburgh added a four-run rally in the ninth to close out the scoring that featured Jung Ho Kang’s 13th home run of the season.
NOTES: In addition to activating starter Brett Anderson from the 60-day disabled list, Los Angeles placed RHP Brandon McCarthy on the 15-day disabled list after he left Saturday’s 8-4 win over Pittsburgh following just 51 pitches. McCarthy could not continue after suffering right hip stiffness. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had better news by announcing RHP Bud Norris is on track to start Thursday’s game in Philadelphia. Norris is sidelined with back injury. … RHP Josh Ravin also was placed on disabled list and RHP Brock Stewart was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City. … Los Angeles 3B Justin Turner missed his second consecutive game with a bruised hand, but Roberts does not feel he is a candidate for the disabled list. Rob Segedin filled in again for Turner. … Los Angeles designated OF Zach Walters for assignment. Walters appeared in three games and went 0-for-5 in limited action. … The Pirates will continue their West Coast trip with a three-game set in San Francisco on Monday. … Pittsburgh OF Starling Marte was a late scratch after being in manager Clint Hurdle’s original lineup. Marte was dealing with upper back discomfort in the seventh inning of Saturday’s game. He received treatment before Sunday’s game but was not deemed fit enough to play less than an hour before the first pitch.
