Pittsburgh Pirates Rafael Flores Jr., top, rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run off Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski, bottom, during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH — Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani hit his 13th homer of the season before leaving the game due to left knee inflammation and Los Angeles beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-6 on Thursday night.

The reigning NL MVP hit a solo homer in the third inning. He also had a single and walked twice, reaching base in all four of his plate appearances before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the seventh inning.

It was not immediately clear when Ohtani began feeling discomfort in the knee.

Dodgers starter Justin Wrobleski left the game in the fifth inning with a left hamstring contusion. The left-hander was hit by a line drive off the bat of Bryan Reynolds.

The ball ricocheted off Wrobleski to first baseman Freddie Freeman. Wrobleski collided with Reynolds while taking Freeman’s toss over at first base.

Andy Pages also had two hits for the NL West-leading Dodgers, who took two of three in the series. Kyle Tucker hit a two-run single, and Miguel Rojas drove in two more runs.

Pirates rookie Rafael Flores Jr. hit his first MLB home run, and Brandon Lowe also went deep. Flores, Nick Gonzales and Spencer Horwitz had two hits apiece.

Wrobleski allowed four runs in 4ª innings. Mitch Keller (5-4) was tagged for five runs in four innings.

Jack Dreyer (3-1) pitched a scoreless seventh inning and Tanner Scott got the last four outs for his seventh save.

Roster moves

The Dodgers placed catcher Will Smith on the 10-day injured list Thursday with neck inflammation.

The Dodgers made the move with the three-time All-Star before facing the Pirates in the finale of a three-game series. The team purchased the contract of catcher Chuckie Robinson from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

The move with Smith was retroactive to Monday. The Dodgers expect him to return when eligible next Thursday. Dalton Rushing will handle the bulk of the catching duties while Smith is sidelined. Smith is hitting .249 with six home runs and 23 RBIs in 52 games.

Up next

Dodgers: RHP Roki Sasaki (4-3, 4.03 ERA) pitches against White Sox LHP Anthony Kay (5-1, 4.40) on tonight in Chicago.

Pirates: Host Miami tonight with RHP Braxton Ashcraft (5-3, 3.28 ERA) facing Marlins RHP Sandy Alcantara (5-4, 4.33).