Pirates Blank Dodgers 3-0: McCutchen, Reynolds Homer as Pittsburgh Tops Los Angeles on September 3, 2025

Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025

Pittsburgh Pirates Shut Out Los Angeles Dodgers 3-0

The Pittsburgh Pirates delivered an impressive performance as Andrew McCutchen and Bryan Reynolds each hit home runs, leading their team to a 3-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers turned to Emmett Sheehan as a last-minute starting pitcher after Shohei Ohtani missed his scheduled start due to illness. Ohtani still contributed at the plate with two hits, but the Dodgers' offense could not break through against Pittsburgh's pitching staff.

Dominant Pitching by the Pirates

Five different Pirates pitchers combined to secure the team’s seventeenth shutout of the season, solidifying Pittsburgh's position as the major league leader in shutouts. Mike Burrows claimed the win after pitching three innings of relief following starter Braxton Ashcraft. Dennis Santana closed out the game with a flawless ninth inning, including a strikeout of Shohei Ohtani to earn his thirteenth save.

Pirates' Home Run Power

Bryan Reynolds powered his fifteenth homer of the season over the challenging 21-foot Clemente Wall in right field. Andrew McCutchen added his thirteenth home run of the year and the 332nd of his career, tying him with Moises Alou and Bobby Bonds for 121st place on the all-time list. Joey Bart made significant contributions as well, tallying three hits and providing an insurance RBI for the Pirates offense.

Dodgers’ Missed Opportunities

The Dodgers stranded ten runners on base in the game and suffered their fourth loss in five games. To make matters worse, catcher Will Smith exited the game in the third inning due to a hand contusion. Despite Ohtani’s two hits, the Dodgers were unable to capitalize on their scoring chances.

Key Moment

In the top of the second inning, the Dodgers loaded the bases with no outs against Pittsburgh starter Braxton Ashcraft. However, Ashcraft struck out Andy Pages and Alex Freeland before getting Kike Hernandez to fly out, successfully escaping the jam and maintaing a 1-0 Pirates’ lead at that point.

Stat to Know

Pittsburgh’s record improved to 51-51 since Don Kelly replaced Derek Shelton as manager on May 8, keeping the team competitive in the National League.

Looking Ahead

The series concludes with a pitching battle as Pirates ace Paul Skenes (9-9, 2.05 ERA) takes the mound against Los Angeles’ Blake Snell (3-3, 2.41 ERA).

In summary

The Pittsburgh Pirates showcased strong pitching and timely home runs from Andrew McCutchen and Bryan Reynolds to blank the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-0. The Dodgers struggled with runners in scoring position, leaving ten on base, while Pirates pitchers combined for their major-league leading seventeenth shutout of the season. This result continues a competitive stretch for Pittsburgh as the series moves forward, highlighting both teams' abilities and areas for improvement. Fans can look forward to an exciting pitching matchup in the next game as the Pirates aim to build on their momentum.

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