Dana Eveland pitched eight strong innings in his first major league appearance in over 14 months, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 6-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates Thursday afternoon at PNC Park. Eveland, who had his contract purchased before the game on the first day MLB rosters expanded, was a Pacific Coast League All-Star this season with Triple A Albuquerque. But he hadn't pitched on a major league mound since June 23, 2010.
Sometimes you have to love baseball. In 2009 and 2010 combined, Eveland put up a 6.96 ERA over 98 innings with the Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays, and Pirates. He had 58 walks and 46 strikeouts during that span. Yet here he was on Thursday, helping the Dodgers win a makeup of a rainout on May 12, allowing one run on six hits in eight innings. Eveland walked none and struck out three.
The Dodgers provided Eveland all the support he needed before he even took the mound, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. Dee Gordon and Matt Kemp both singled, then Kemp stole his 36th base of the season. After Andre Ethier walked, Aaron Miles delivered a two-run single, which was followed by a scoring fly ball from Tony Gwynn Jr.
The Pirates scored three in the ninth inning to make the game close, but Kenley Jansen struck out the final two batters to preserve the win.
The Dodgers head to Atlanta to face the Braves in a weekend series starting Friday night. Chad Billingsley starts the opener, against Brandon Beachy.
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