Pirates aim to shrug off blowout loss to Dodgers

LOS ANGELES -- The Pittsburgh Pirates hope the second game of their seven-game road trip isn't anywhere close to being as ugly as the first one.

"The beauty of this game is that games like this only count as one loss," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said after his club was hammered 12-1 by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday. "They don't count as two or three or four. They count as one."

The Pirates will count on right-hander Ivan Nova (3-3, 2.14 ERA) when they face the Dodgers on Tuesday. Los Angeles lefty Julio Urias (0-0, 0.84) will oppose Nova.

A six-run first inning, highlighted by a Chris Taylor grand slam, was more than enough Monday for the Dodgers, who won their third in a row. Los Angeles (18-14) pounded out a season-high 15 hits to only five for the Pirates.

Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson said variety is the spice of the team's attack.

"Chris just really set the tone, and we just built off that the rest of the game, and a good way to start the series," said Pederson, who went 3-for-5 and drove in a pair of runs.

Pederson also had high praise for rookie Cody Bellinger, Justin Turner, Corey Seager and Yasiel Puig.

"I think what makes us so special is we have so many guys that can singlehandedly take over games, and (Bellinger) has kind of been carrying us and (Turner), Seager, so it's nice for Chris Taylor to step up, and Puig. Let the bats come around. It's a special thing."

Normally, the Pirates play well during their visits to Dodger Stadium. Until Monday's debacle, Pittsburgh won 10 of its previous 13 at Chavez Ravine.

Against the National League West last season, the Pirates were 11-5 on the road, winning their last four series.

Hurdle said he had no clue why the Pirates have experienced success against NL West teams.

"I don't overcook it. It's not because they're not good teams," said Hurdle, specifically singling out the Dodgers and San Francisco Giants. "They're good teams, in the playoffs, two of them. I don't know, we come out here and show up."

Nova is 1-0 in his only career start against the Dodgers. He allowed a run in 5 1/3 innings in a 5-1 victory by the Pirates on Aug. 12, 2016, at Dodger Stadium.

In his last outing, Nova was on the losing end of a 4-2 decision against the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday at Great American Ball Park. He gave up four runs on 10 hits in six innings.

Nova is 1-2 with a 2.35 ERA in three road starts this season.

Urias earned a win in relief in his lone career appearance against the Pirates, on Aug 14, 2016. He struck out three, walked three and allowed three hits in 2 2/3 scoreless innings during an 8-4 Los Angeles victory.

Urias finally will face a club other than San Francisco. In his only two appearances this season, both starts against the rival Giants, the Dodgers split the contests although Urias didn't factor into a decision in either.

In his last outing, Urias gave up four hits and four walks with one strikeout in five scoreless innings on Wednesday.