Dodgers lose third game in a row, 2-1 to Pirates

KEY MOMENT: Chone Figgins drew a two-out, 11-pitch walk in the fifth inning to load the bases for Yasiel Puig. But Puig popped out to second base to end the inning and the Dodgers still trailed, 2-0. The Dodgers are now four for 37 this season with the bases loaded. Hanley Ramirez led off the sixth inning with a double, but Matt Kemp, Scott Van Slyke and Andre Ethier failed to drive him in. The Dodgers went on to lose their third consecutive game.

AT THE PLATE: Ramirez was two for four and drove in the Dodgers’ only run with an eighth-inning single. Dee Gordon stole two bases, raising his season total to a major league-leading 34. That establishes a career high for Gordon, whose previous best was 32, in 2012. Puig singled in the fourth inning and has reached base in 31 consecutive games. As Gordon and Puig continue to play at All-Star-caliber levels, Kemp remains in a funk. Kemp, who recently moved from center field to left, is 0 for his last 20.

ON THE MOUND: The bullpen kept the game close, as Paul Maholm, Chris Perez, Brian Wilson and J.P. Howell each tossed a scoreless inning. Pittsburgh starter Francisco Liriano got his first win of the season; he had been 0-5.

ON THE BENCH: With the Dodgers facing a left-hander in Liriano, Manager Don Mattingly used it as a reason to give Adrian Gonzalez a day off. Van Slyke started in his place at first base. The last time Gonzalez didn’t start was a game was May 7. “With Adrian, what’s tough is you always want him in the lineup,” Mattingly said. “He wants to be out there.” At the same time, Mattingly said he wants to rest his first baseman every now and then, especially now that Gonzalez is 32 years old. Gonzalez pinch-hit in the eighth inning with two outs and Ramirez on second base, but grounded out to short.

UP NEXT: Hyun-Jin Ryu (5-2, 3.10 ERA) will face the Pirates and Brandon Cumpton (0-1, 3.38) at Dodger Stadium at 4 p.m. On the air: TV: Channel 11. Radio: 570, 1020 (Spanish).