Here is the surprise of the year in major league baseball

Major League's 2023 season is still in its infancy, but the Pittsburgh Pirates are arguably the biggest surprise so far. Thursday, at PNC Park, they continued their momentum by defeating the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2.

With this victory, the Pennsylvania team won its three-game series against that of the city of angels and increased its record to 18-8, good for first place in the National.

Also, for the first time since 2015, it is 10 games above the bar of ,500.

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What explains the sudden success of the Pirates, who only won only one playoff since they last won the World Series in 1979? First and foremost, the prowess of their gunners.

In the game of the day, Mitch Keller (3-0) made 10 strikeouts for the first time in his career, marking the 16th quality start for the Pirates since the start of the campaign.

The visitors hit just five hits off Keller in six innings, then were muzzled by the relievers who came after him. David Peralta drove in his only run with a single in the first inning.

The Pirates were quick to respond, however. Jack Suwinski and Bryan Reynolds first sent a teammate home with a single. Rodolfo Castro then allowed the latter to score by hitting a sacrifice fly.

Long balls from Connor Joe and Castro, in the sixth period, crowned the victory for the Pirates. 

Also, 33-year-old rookie Drew Maggi played his second game in the majors. He is still looking for a first hit after four appearances at the plate.

Julio Urias (3-3) suffered the loss on the side of the Dodgers. He allowed all of the opposition's runs, seven safe hits and two free passes in five and two-thirds innings.