Chris Taylor's Grand Slam Helps Dodgers Pound Pirates, 12-1

Make it an even dozen. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers spoiled the Pirates return to sunny Southern California by pounding Pittsburgh, 12-1, on Monday night at Dodger Stadium.

Pittsburgh entered the game winners of 10-of-13 against the Dodgers since 2015, including a 5-2 mark last season, but the Dodgers wasted no time turning the tables on the Pirates.

Chris Taylor started the game with a grand slam off starter Trevor Williams to give L.A. an early 5-0 lead, and the Dodgers never looked back.

Taylor's first inning slam came on the heels of Cody Bellinger's slam in the ninth inning on Saturday night against San Diego. It was the first time the Dodgers have hit grand slams in back-to-back games since Sept. 7, 2004 (Robin Ventura and Olmedo Saenz).

"You definitely want to take advantage of those opportunities," said Taylor of coming up with the bases loaded in the first inning. "It's fun every time you hit a home run. Obviously we did a good job of scoring tonight."

Two batters later, Yasiel Puig sent a slider halfway up the seats in left field and the Dodgers finished with six runs in the first inning.

Williams wilted under the bright lights of Dodger Stadium. In his first start of the season, the right-hander from San Diego made two fielding mistakes to start the game, and surrendered eight runs (six earned) on seven hits with one walk and two strikeouts in just three innings of work.

"I made some mistakes out there and didn't execute some pitches and it led to a big inning," said Williams after the game. "I let things get out of hand that first inning. I had a chance to stop the bleeding, but unfortunately he [Taylor] hit it over the fence for four runs."

Meanwhile, Alex Wood was phenomenal in just his fifth start of the season. Wood did not allow a hit through 4 and 2/3, finishing the game with just one walk and 11 strikeouts in five scoreless innings.

Wood has solidified his spot in the starting rotation as the Dodgers continue to play musical chairs with their starters.

"I was supposed to throw today anyways," said Wood of his spot in the rotation. "It just so happened we got rain, so we could have stayed on and we all would have gotten seven days rest, but McCarthy didn't start, so I stayed on my normal rotation."

On Monday, the team announced that undefeated starter, Brandon McCarthy, was headed to the 10-day disabled list (retroactive May 5) with shoulder soreness.

In just his second start since returning from the disabled list, Joc Pederson, finished 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored.

"I've been trying to get my feet underneath me and get into a good rhythm," said Pederson of his return. "I had two weeks off so I'm trying to get back into the feel of things."

Talyor continues to rake, going 2-for-4 with four RBI and three runs scored.

"His swing last year couldn't really handle velocity," said Roberts of Taylor's turnaround since last season. "The rhythm in his swing he can handle more velocity and mechanically he's much more sound and athletic." 

Cody Bellinger went 0-for-4 with a run scored and a strikeout on the night it was announced that he was named the National League player of the week.

The team combined for a season-high 15 hits and recorded 17 strikeouts--the most this season--as they won their third straight game and eight of ten overall.

Up Next:

The Dodgers send Julio Urias to the mound tomorrow against former-Yankee Ivan Nova for the Pirates. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10PM PST.