After an extra-inning walk-off victory yesterday, the Dodgers and Pirates played another close one today, and Tarik Skubal arguably turned in his best start as a Dodger despite surrendering three early. He kept them in the game after that and Kyle Tucker ended up with the game-winning hit as the pen managed to get the final six outs for a 4-3 victory and five in a row.
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Newly Latino, Tarik Skubal was looking to finally put it together in a Dodgers uniform and get his first win in the process.
https://twitter.com/Djodgers/status/2090611766275530881
Unfortunately, things started about as poorly as possible. After getting the first out, back-to-back singles followed, and Oneil Cruz lashed a first-pitch sinker down the line in right for a two-run triple.
Two-run triple for Oneil Cruz off Tarik Skubal and the @Pirates have jumped to an early lead!
?: FOX pic.twitter.com/W2WjnOBPBJ
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 22, 2026
Rafael Flores Jr. followed with a groundball back towards him that was soft enough to score a run for an out to make it 3-0 Pirates.
Skubal did manage to settle down a bit from there despite some unfortunate luck. Back-to-back soft singles started the 2nd against him, and a sac bunt advanced both runners, but Skubal got back-to-back strikeouts to keep the score the same.
スクーバル1個目の奪三振?
インコースに鋭く切れ込むスライダーで空振り三振
Tarik Skubal #Dodgers ⓒFOX pic.twitter.com/7YvyiUAQ2X
— 【MLB速報】放送地区【大谷速報】 (@MLB_comment) August 22, 2026
スクーバル2個目の奪三振?
連打と送りバントで2,3塁のピンチを背負うも連続三振に打ち取り2回を無失点に抑える！
Tarik Skubal #Dodgers ⓒFOX pic.twitter.com/XUIAL3CAyH
— 【MLB速報】放送地区【大谷速報】 (@MLB_comment) August 22, 2026
That really seemed to settle him in, as Skubal notched back-to-back clean frames in the 3rd and 4th. After giving up just a two-out walk in the 5th, he struck out the side in the 6th, and then came back out in the 7th for another clean frame to end his day.
Tarik Skubal has now retired 15 of his last 16 batters! Skubal is now up to 11 strikeouts tonight ?
?: FOX pic.twitter.com/bcYOc7YSiq
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 23, 2026
He pushed it past 100 pitches again in arguably his best start: 7 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 11 K, 106 Pitches.
All 11 of Tarik Skubal’s strikeouts tonight! pic.twitter.com/nHSlYABq6k
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 23, 2026
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On the other end was Jared Jones in something of a homecoming for the local kid who grew up a Dodger fan, and he started off on fire in a clean 1st and issued just a lead-off walk in the 2nd. By the 3rd there were signs the adrenaline was wearing off a bit, and he issued a pair of two-out walks, though he worked around that. However, he was lucky to even get through the 4th.
Max Muncy started the rally with a double, Tommy Edman walked, and a groundout cornered the runners. Teoscar Hernandez then singled for the Dodgers’ first run, and Alek Thomas followed with his first hit and RBI as a Dodger by singling to left to make it 3-2 Pirates.
Teoscar Hernandez gets the Dodgers on the board in the 4th!
?: FOX pic.twitter.com/FI5xdTwww5
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 23, 2026
Alek Thomas makes it a one-run game!
?: FOX pic.twitter.com/ucWvLqHhSn
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 23, 2026
A bunt was attempted after that, but the lead runner was cut down. A Shohei Ohtani walked followed to load the bases, but a flyout ended that golden opportunity.
The rally did knock Jones out after four frames, and the Dodgers rallied in the 5th off old friend Yohan Ramirez. Mookie Betts got hit to start and Muncy doubled again to put a pair in scoring position. However, the first out was recorded on what clearly looked like a foul ball from Tommy Edman that even left the first baseman confused.
Literally Flores even looked confused it was called fair. Good god. https://t.co/NuZvkVCM0A pic.twitter.com/1kILc1upgU
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 23, 2026
Fortunately, it didn’t cost them that much, as Kyle Tucker came through with a single to plate two and give the Dodgers a 4-3 lead. He also stole second to give them an insurance chance, but nothing came of that.
Kyle Tucker comes through for the Dodgers and they take the lead in the 5th!
?: FOX pic.twitter.com/1Bqhvq6GiA
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 23, 2026
Speaking of insurance, the Dodgers weren’t able to get any the rest of the game.
They got just a two-out single off Camilo Doval in the 6th, a lead-off single against Kirby Yates in the 7th was erased by a double play, and Antwone Kelly worked around a one-out two-base error in the 8th.
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That left the beleaguered Dodgers pen to protect a one-run lead for six outs, but even that was almost too much.
Evan Phillips took over for Skubal in the 8th, allowing a one-out double and Ben Rortvedt cost him an extra base with a passed ball. However, he came back and got a massive strikeout for the second out.
Jack Dreyer was then summoned for Cruz, and he froze him for a strikeout to escape that jam.
ドライヤーがオニール・クルーズを見逃し三振！
フィリップスから受け継いだドライヤーが一打同点のピンチを切り抜けるナイスピッチング！
Jack Dreyer #Dodgers ⓒFOX pic.twitter.com/cqlzGW89IZ
— 【MLB速報】放送地区【大谷速報】 (@MLB_comment) August 23, 2026
Tanner Scott was given the 9th, and he proved to be a good option again with a clean frame to secure the win.
The Dodgers have now won five in a row! pic.twitter.com/lWWYLYQZNZ
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 23, 2026
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If you were traumatized by Freddie Freeman‘s fall into the dugout the other day, well he apparently wasn’t. Psycho.
フリーマンがファインプレー！
フェンス際の際どいフライをナイスキャッチ！
先日の転落事故をものともしない守備Freddie Freeman #Dodgers ⓒFOX pic.twitter.com/D5U0e1CbEA
— 【MLB速報】放送地区【大谷速報】 (@MLB_comment) August 23, 2026
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| NL Seeding | Record | GB |
| Brewers | 81-49 | – |
| Dodgers | 79-51 | 2.0 |
| Braves | 75-55 | 6.0 |
The series concludes tomorrow in a typically early Sunday start of 10:10 AM HT/1:10 PM PT/4:10 PM ET with Blake Snell on the bump against Carmen Mlodzinski.
