Los Angeles Dodgers at Pittsburgh Pirates

The Dodgers defeated the Pirates, 8-6, on Thursday night at PNC Park, but it was a costly victory, as superstar Shohei Ohtani was pinch-hit for in the top of the seventh inning with left knee inflammation. Per manager Dave Roberts, Ohtani experienced pain in his left knee/hamstring area after a stolen-base attempt that was a foul ball, and the decision to remove him was purely precautionary. Roberts downplayed the significance of the injury after the game and said he was optimistic that Ohtani would play Friday night when his team opens a three-game series of division leaders with the White Sox at Rate Field. “We tried to be smart about it and get him out of the game,” Roberts said. “He told the trainer that he felt a little something behind his knee, and I just didn’t see any sense in risking it.” Ohtani was not available to the media after the game. Ohtani hit a solo homer in the third inning off Mitch Keller to open the scoring and reached base all four times he stepped to the plate, singling and walking twice. Santiago Espinal entered as pinch-hitter and remained in the game as DH. Ohtani is hitting .305/.421/.543 in 67 games this season with 13 homers and six stolen bases. As a pitcher, his record is 6-2 in 11 starts with a 1.06 ERA, including a quality start on Wednesday vs. the Bucs (four runs, three earned, on eight hits over 6 2/3 innings with six strikeouts). Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman admitted it was a little scary to see Ohtani leave the game. “He’s only the greatest player in the world,” Freeman said.