Flaherty Shines in Dodgers Victory Over Pirates

In a triumphant return to Dodger Stadium, Jack Flaherty secured a victory in his first home start since being traded from the Detroit Tigers. The Burbank native, who attended his first game at the stadium as a six-month-old, received a warm ovation as he exited the game with two outs in the sixth inning, leading 9-4. Flaherty pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing four runs and nine hits while throwing a season-high 110 pitches. The Dodgers showcased a strong offensive performance, highlighted by Will Smith's two-run single and Miguel Rojas's two-out RBI single, which extended their lead to 6-0. Teoscar Hernández contributed with a two-out RBI single in the fourth, bringing the score to 7-1. Kiké Hernández further bolstered the Dodgers' lead with a two-run homer in the fifth, marking a pivotal moment in the game. On the opposing side, Pittsburgh's Oneil Cruz hit a solo home run to start the fourth inning, but the Pirates struggled to keep pace. Domingo Germán, making his return to the majors after a year away due to behavioral issues, pitched four innings for the Pirates, giving up two runs and one hit while striking out three. Looking ahead, the Dodgers are optimistic about the potential return of RHP Walker Buehler next Thursday during their series in Milwaukee, while the Pirates are set to start RHP Paul Skenes, who boasts an impressive 1.99 ERA, in Saturday's matchup.