Time and time again, Pirate rookies walked a tightrope. Against the reigning champions, they didn’t fall.

Despite six walks, two off a season-high, Pirate pitchers Braxton Ashcraft, Mike Burrows, Evan Sisk, Isaac Mattson and Dennis Santana combined for a 3-0 shutout win against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at PNC Park, the Pirates’ league-leading 17th shutout of the season. The Pirates have won 11 of 15 and will go for a sweep of the National League West-leading Dodgers on Thursday.

With the win, the Pirates improved to 51-51 in manager Don Kelly’s 102 games in charge.

The tightrope act started early. Ashcraft loaded the bases with no outs in the second inning on a single from first baseman Freddie Freeman and two walks, then struck out center fielder Andy Pages and second baseman Ky

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