Clutch Dodgers Beat Reds 5-4, Take Series

Quick Stats:

• Tyler Glasnow(LAD): 0 IP, 4 Hits, 4 Runs, 5 Walks, 3 Strikeouts(No Decision)
• Nick Lodolo(CIN):1 IP, 6 Hits, 2 Runs, 1 Walk, 11 Strikeouts(No Decision)
• Alexis Diaz(LAD): 1 IP, 0 Hits, 0 Runs, 0 Walks, 0 Strikeouts(Win)
• Emilio Pagan(CIN): 0 IP, 1 Hit, 1 Run, 1 Walk, 1 Strikeout(Loss)
• Tommy Edman(LAD): 2-4, HR
• Will Smith(LAD): 2-5, 2 RBIs
• Mookie Betts(LAD): 2-4
• Freddie Freeman(LAD): 3-5 

LAD: 11 Hits, 5 Runs, 3 Walks, 14 Strikeouts

CIN: 6 Hits, 4 Runs, 5 Walks, 6 Strikeouts

The Game Story:

1^st Inning: Mookie Betts leads the game off by striking out looking. Shohei Ohtani strikes out on a check swing for the second out. Will Smith strikes out swinging to end the top half of the inning. Gavin Lux grounds out to second. Matt McLain strikes out looking for the second out. Elly De La Cruz pops out to short to end the inning.

2^nd Inning: Freddie Freeman singles to center. Teoscar Hernandez strikes out swinging. Andy Pages strikes out swinging for the second out. Tommy Edman hits an opposite-field home run to right, and the Dodgers lead 2-0. Miguel Rojas strikes out swinging to end the top half of the inning. Austin Hays strikes out swinging. Jake Fraley draws a walk. Spencer Steer draws a walk. Noelvi Marte grounds into a double play to end the inning.

3^rd Inning: Esteury Ruiz lays down a bunt and is thrown out at first. Mookie Betts draws a walk. Shohei Ohtani strikes out looking for the second out. Will Smith comes up to bat. Betts tries to steal second and is thrown out to end the top half of the inning. Will Benson strikes out but reaches first due to a passed ball. Jose Trevino grounds into a double play. Gavin Lux singles to right. Matt McLain reaches on an infield single. Dodgers challenge the play at first. The runner is called out to end the inning, and the Dodgers keep their challenge.

4^th Inning: Will Smith grounds out to third. Freddie Freeman singles to left. Teoscar Hernandez flies out to center for the second out. Andy Pages singles through short, and Freeman reaches third on an error by Elly De La Cruz to put runners on first and third with two out. Tommy Edman strikes out on a foul tip to end the top half of the inning. Elly De La Cruz grounds out to second. Austin Hays draws a walk. Jake Fraley hits a home run, and the game is tied 2-2. Spencer Steer pops out to second base for the second out. Noelvi Marte hits a home run to right, and the Reds lead 3-2. Will Benson grounds out to first to end the inning.

5^th Inning: Miguel Rojas singles to left. Esteury Ruiz strikes out swinging—Mookie Betts singles to left to put runners on first and second with one out. Shohei Ohtani strikes out swinging for the second out. Will Smith comes up to bat. Pickoff to second goes into the outfield, and runners advance to second and third. Smith strikes out looking to end the top half of the inning. Jose Trevino doubles to center. Gavin Lux draws a walk to put runners on first and second with nobody out. Matt McLain draws a walk to load the bases. Jack Dreyer comes in to relieve Tyler Glasnow. Elly De La Cruz grounds into a fielder’s choice, and the run scores to extend the Reds’ lead to 4-2, and runners are on first and third with one out. Austin Hays gets an infield single to load the bases again. Santiago Espinal pinch hits for Jake Fraley. Espinal flies out to right for the second out. Ben Casparius comes in to relieve Dreyer. Spencer Steer strikes out swinging to end the inning.

6^th Inning: Freddie Freeman grounds out to first. Reds bring in Scott Barlow to relieve Lodolo. Teoscar Hernandez hits a double to left. Andy Pages pops out to third for the second out. Tommy Edman grounds out to first to end the top half of the inning. Noelvi Marte flies out to right. Will Benson grounds out to second base for the second out. Jose Trevino flies out to right to end the inning.

7^th Inning: Graham Ashcraft comes in to relieve Scott Barlow for the Reds. Miguel Rojas strikes out swinging. Michal Conforto pinch hits for Ruiz. Conforto draws a walk. Mookie Betts singles to right to put runners on first and second and one out. Shohei Ohtani strikes out for the second out. Will Smith singles to left and Conforto scores to make it 4-3. Freddie Freeman singles to left, and Betts scores, and the game is tied 4-4 with runners on first and third and two outs. Teoscar Hernandez grounds out to second to end the top half of the inning. Dodgers bring in Anthony Banda to relieve Casparius. Gavin Lux flies out to left. Matt McLain flies out to right for the second out. Elly De La Cruz doubles to right. Dodgers bring in Alexis Diaz to relieve Banda. Austin Hays grounds out to third to end the inning.

8^th Inning: Reds bring in Tony Santillan to relieve Ashcraft. Andy Pages grounds out to third. Tommy Edman grounds out to first for the second out. Miguel Rojas lines out to the pitcher to end the top half of the inning. Santiago Espinal pops out to third. Spencer Steer flies out to left for the second out. Connor Joe flies out to right to end the inning.

9^th Inning: Reds bring in Emilio Pagan to relieve Santillan. Michael Conforto draws a walk. James Outman pinch runs for Conforto. Mookie Betts flies out to right. Shohei Ohtani flies out to right for the second out. Will Smith doubles to left and scores Outman, and the Dodgers lead 5-4. Freddie Freeman strikes out swinging to end the top half of the inning. Dodgers bring in Alex Vesia to relieve Diaz. Outman stays in the game at center, moving Pages to the left. Reds pinch hit Rece Hinds for Will Benson. Hinds strikes out swinging. Jose Trevino pops out to the catcher for the second out. Tyler Stephenson pinch hits for Gavin Lux. Stephenson strikes out swinging to end the game.

Final Score: Los Angeles Dodgers-5, Cincinnati Reds-4

Dodgers Player of the Game

Will Smith gets the nod with his double in the ninth to give the Dodgers the lead.

My Thoughts: All five runs in tonight’s game were scored with two outs. No, that is not a typo; that is clutch baseball. The Dodgers started hot with Edman’s two-run homer, but after that, the Reds looked like they had the momentum, especially with Lodolo, who, minus Edman’s home run, looked pretty unhittable, as he racked up 11 strikeouts. Tyler Glasnow did not look like himself as he couldn’t find the strike zone and at one point had more balls than strikes thrown during the game. The heroes of tonight’s game would be the bullpen, which pitched five shutout innings that provided the Dodgers a chance to come back and take this game. This was a remarkable come-from-behind win and allowed the Dodgers to take the series as they go for the sweep tomorrow evening.

Next Up:  The final game of the series will feature Shohei Ohtani pitching for the Dodgers and going up against the Reds’ Nick Martinez. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 PM PST on Sportsnet LA.

Clay Gregory

Growing up and living in Oklahoma I fell in love with the game of baseball from an early age from playing T ball through High School. I have always had an admiration for the Boys in Blue with how the Dodger Way is the right way to play the game. Tommy Lasorda is my favorite manager of all time and my all-time favorite players are Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese, Sandy Koufax, Pedro Guerrero, Mike Piazza and Clayton Kershaw. I am enamored with Dodgers history from the Brooklyn days when they were Dem Bums to the days of Fernandomania to Mannywood and beyond. Vin Scully will always be the best announcer the game has ever seen and it will always be time for Dodger baseball. I am married to the love of my life Melissa who gave me the inspiration to actually take on this crazy idea of writing about the Dodgers and without her support I would not be able to do what I love. My cousin Zach Chase and uncle John Chase for being a Dodger encyclopedia and sharing their knowledge with me. I will bring my perspective and love for the team to readers and I will most likely have spelling errors from time to time but I promise ill do my best on it. I want to bring you a unique perspective on your favorite team and also throw some humor along the way. I love to talk about baseball with anybody who will listen and I look forward to the Dodgers going back-to-back in their quest for another World Series Championship. Dodger Blue through and through.

More Posts

Follow Me: