Mookie Betts hits major league-leading fifth home run, leads Dodgers to 5-4 victory over Giants

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mookie Betts hit his major league-leading fifth home run, Freddie Freeman had three hits and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Francisco Giants 5-4 on Tuesday night for their third straight victory.

Betts lifted a hanging changeup from Giants starter Logan Webb into the left-center field bleachers in the third inning for a game-tying solo home run and the 1,500th hit of his career.

“I had no idea (about the milestone),” Betts said. “When they said it on there, that’s when I found out. Freddie came and congratulated me and I was like, ‘For what?’ He came and told me. I had no idea.”

Betts finished 2 for 5 with two runs scored and a stolen base. He is batting .500 and has reached base in 23 of 38 plate appearances to open the season.

Webb (0-1) surrendered seven hits and five runs in 3 2/3 innings. The NL Cy Young Award runner-up had lasted less than four innings just once in his previous 63 starts dating back to April 2022.

“His stuff looked pretty good, but he was behind in some counts and there were some two-strike hits,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “They were sitting soft late in the count. They made him work. They made him throw a lot of pitches. Obviously not his best outing.”

Ryan Yarbrough (1-0) followed opener Ryan Brasier with 4 1/3 innings of relief to earn the win. After Brasier tossed a scoreless first inning, Yarbrough allowed seven hits and four runs, walked one and struck out one while pitching into the sixth in a bullpen game for the Dodgers.

The teams traded runs early before Betts’ blast tied the score at 2-2. Gavin Lux hit a tiebreaking RBI double the opposite way into left-center in the fourth inning off of Webb, and Kikè Hernandez followed with a two-run single that gave the Dodgers a 5-2 lead and proved to be the decisive blow.

Jorge Soler led off the sixth with his first home run as a Giant and Michael Conforto singled and scored on a fielder’s choice to bring San Francisco within a run, but the back of the Dodgers’ bullpen held on.

Alex Vesia and Michael Grove combined for 2 1/3 scoreless innings and Evan Phillips recorded a four-out save to secure the victory. Phillips got pinch-hitter LaMonte Wade Jr. to ground out to first with the tying run on second base to end the eighth inning and struck out Matt Chapman with the tying run on first to end it in the ninth.

“As the game is progressing, you kind piece together how it might come," Phillips said. “We take a lot of pride as a bullpen and we were trying to put a little bit more emphasis on winning that game.”

Soler, Conforto and Wilmer Flores each had two hits for the Giants, who have lost 13 of their last 18 games against the Dodgers.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Giants: OF Jung Hoo Lee was in the starting lineup after slamming hard into the left-center field wall trying to catch Betts’ triple in Monday’s game. Giants manager Bob Melvin said Lee suffered no ill effects from the collision.

Dodgers: RHP Walker Buehler (elbow) played catch on the field before the game. He will make his second rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday. RHP/DH Shohei Ohtani (elbow) made 50 throws from approximately 60 feet as he continues his rehab from offseason surgery. He will take a day off from throwing and then resume his progression Thursday.

UP NEXT

Giants: LHP Kyle Harrison will make his second start of the season in the series finale against the Dodgers on Wednesday.

Dodgers: RHP Tyler Glasnow will start the final game of the series against the Giants on Wednesday after receiving an extra day of rest.

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani warms up for the team's baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani warms up for the team's baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

San Francisco Giants' Jorge Soler runs the bases on a home run during the sixth inning of the team's baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

San Francisco Giants' Thairo Estrada hits a single against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. Michael Conforto scored. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts is congratulated for a home run against the San Francisco Giants during the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts, left, celebrates his home run against the San Francisco Giants with Freddie Freeman during the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts celebrates a home run against the San Francisco Giants during the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh left-hander Bailey Falter carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning and the Pirates beat the Miami Marlins 3-1 on Wednesday afternoon for a sweep of the season series.

Falter (8-7) allowed three walks before Jonah Bride dropped a single into left field with one out in the seventh.

“I don’t really worry about that stuff,” Falter said, referring to the no-hit bid. "My job is to go out there and put up zeroes and get those guys off the field as quickly as possible.”

The 27-year-old Falter gave up a leadoff single to Cristian Pache in the eighth before being pulled on 93 pitches (57 strikes) after getting the first out with Kyle Stowers flying to center. Four of Falter’s five strikeouts came in the first five batters, striking out the side in the first inning on 10 pitches.

“I actually had a terrible bullpen session, so I came out there, guns hot, and told myself, ‘Dude, I’m just going to grip this and rip it and see where it takes us.’ That’s what happens," Falter said.

David Bednar pitched the ninth but could not pick up his first save since Aug. 23. Otto Lopez led off with a double before Jake Burger reached on an error by shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Bednar struck out Bride and Jesús Sánchez before Pache hit an RBI single up the middle.

Jalen Beeks came in for Bednar, allowing an infield single to Stowers that loaded the bases, and got Xavier Edwards to fly out to right for his 10th save.

“I think we’re getting better,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “We’re in a definite, much better spot than we have (been) in the last two years with our starting pitching. We’re deeper than we have been. We have to continue to build things offensively and continue to grow that depth.”

Jonathan Bermúdez (0-1) got through two innings for Miami, allowing three runs and three hits with one walk in his first major-league start.

The Marlins lost each of their seven games against the Pirates this season. They were swept to open the season in Miami, losing four games by a combined score of 31-17 before dropping the past three in Pittsburgh.

“Those guys fought,” Miami manager Skip Schumaker said. “There’s no doubt about it, they fought all three games. Had a chance to win or tie all three games. We just couldn’t come up with the big hit late. Falter was really good, fastball at the top of the zone that we couldn’t get on top of. Not a lot of hard contact. Not a lot of great plays behind him, just a lot of weak contact and strikeouts.”

Pittsburgh scored twice in the first inning. Bryan Reynolds hit a one-out double into right field, later scoring when Oneil Cruz walked with the bases loaded; Joey Bart went home on a sacrifice fly from Connor Joe.

Jared Triolo extended the lead to 3-0 the next inning with his eighth homer of the season.

“It was kind of sick,” Triolo said of watching Falter. “It was really sick, actually. But not very cool to not talk to him for a while, but cool to see him do that.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: RHP John McMillon replaced Bermúdez to start the third inning, allowing a leadoff single to Nick Gonzales before being immediately removed after two fastballs in the high 80s. He was pulled with tightness in his right forearm/elbow area, Schumaker said.

UP NEXT

Marlins: RHP Darren McCaughan (0-0, 7.40 ERA) will start Thursday to open a four-game series at Washington. The Nationals have not announced a starter.

Pirates: RHP Luis Ortiz (6-5, 3.26) will take the mound Friday, opening a three-game series against the Royals. Kansas City has not announced a starter.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bailey Falter delivers during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Miami Marlins' Jesus Sanchez, left, steals second base ahead of the tag by Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Nick Gonzales, right, during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Maimi Marlins starting pitcher Jonathan Bermudez delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Miami Marlins relief pitcher John McMillon, left, leaves the field after an injury during the third inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz, right, steals second base ahead of the tag by Miami Marlins second baseman Javier Sanoja, during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Jared Triolo rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bailey Falter delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)