Reds Win Final Game of the Series 5-2 -

Quick Stats:

Shohei Ohtani(LAD): 0 IP, 5 Hits, 2 Runs, 2 Walks, 4 Strikeouts(No Decision)
Nick Martinez(CIN): 0 IP, 4 Hits, 2 Runs, 2 Walks, 7 Strikeouts(No Decision)
Scott Barlow(CIN): 2 IP, 1 Hit, 0 Runs, 0 Walks, 0 Strikeouts(Win)
Emmet Sheehan(LAD): 2 IP, 1 Hit, 3 Runs, 3 Walks, 5 Strikeouts(Loss)
Freddie Freeman(LAD): 1-2, HR
Alex Freeland(LAD): 1-2, First Major League Hit
Spencer Steer(CIN): 2-3
Santiago Espinal(CIN): 2-4

LAD: 7 Hits, 2 Runs, 4 Walks, 8 Strikeouts

CIN: 8 Hits, 5 Runs, 5 Walks, 12 Strikeouts

The Game Story:

1^st Inning: Mookie Betts leads the game off by striking out looking. Shohei Ohtani grounds out to first for the second out. Will Smith strikes out looking to end the top half of the inning. Gavin Lux doubles to right. Matt McLain strikes out swinging. Elly De La Cruz singles to center, scoring the run, and the Reds lead 1-0. Austin Hays strikes out swinging for the second out. Noelvi Marte grounds out to short to end the inning.

2^nd Inning: Freddie Freeman strikes out swinging. Teoscar Hernandez pops out to first for the second out—Andy Pages singles to left. Michael Conforto flies out to center to end the top half of the inning. Tyler Stephenson strikes out looking. Spencer Steer singles to the left. Will Benson strikes out swinging for the second out—Santiago Espinal singles to left to put runners on first and second with two outs. Gavin Lux grounds out to second to end the inning.

3^rd Inning: Miguel Rojas singles to center. Alex Freeland lines out to first, and Rojas is out for the double play. Mookie Betts flies out to center to end the top half of the inning. Matt McLain flies out to left. Elly De La Cruz grounds out to second base for the second out. Austin Hayes grounds out to short to end the inning.

4^th Inning: Shohei Ohtani grounds out to second. Will Smith draws a walk. Freddie Freeman hits a two-run home run to put the Dodgers up 2-1. Teoscar Hernandez grounds out to short for the second out. Andy Pages strikes out swinging to end the top half of the inning. Noelvi Marte gets an infield single. Ohtani throws a wild pitch, and Marte reaches second. Wild pitch by Ohtani moves Marte to third. Tyler Stephenson draws a walk. Anthony Banda comes in to relieve Ohtani, who goes from pitcher to designated hitter. Spencer Steer walks to load the bases. Will Benson hits a sac fly to center, and the score is tied 2-2. Santiago Espinal strikes out swinging for the second out. Gavin Lux strikes out looking to end the inning.

5^th Inning: Michael Conforto strikes out swinging. Miguel Rojas grounds out to third for the second out. Alex Freeland singles to the left for his first big league hit. Mookie Betts grounds into a force out to end the top half of the inning. Emmet Sheehan comes in to relieve Banda. Matt McLain strikes out swinging. Elly De La Cruz pops out to third for the second out. Austin Hays strikes out swinging to end the inning.

6^th Inning: Shohei Ohtani strikes out looking. Will Smith strikes out swinging for the second out. Freddie Freeman draws a walk. Teoscar Hernandez grounds out to the pitcher to end the top half of the inning. Noelvi Marte flies out to center. Tyler Stephenson draws a walk. Spencer Steer strikes out swinging for the second out. Will Benson flies out to center to end the inning.

7^th Inning: Reds bring in Luis Mey to relieve Martinez. Andy Pages pops out to the catcher—Michael Conforto singles to center. Miguel Rojas flies out to center for the second out. Alex Freeland draws a walk. Mookie Betts flies out to left to end the top half of the inning. Santiago Espinal strikes out swinging. Gavin Lux pops out to the catcher for the second out. Matt McLain strikes out on a foul tip to end the inning.

8^th Inning: Reds bring in Sam Moll to replace Mey. Shohei Ohtani pops out to third. Will Smith doubles to the left. Freddie Freeman draws a walk. Reds bring in Scott Barlow to relieve Moll. Teoscar Hernandez singles to center to load the bases with one out. Andy Pages pops out to first for the second out. Michael Conforto flies out to right to end the top half of the inning. Andy Pages moves to left with James Outman coming in to play center and replacing Michael Conforto. Elly De Le Cruz flies out to center. Austin Hayes draws a walk. Noelvi Marte pops out to the catcher for the second out. Tyler Stephenson draws a walk to put runners on first and second with two outs. Spencer Steer triples to center, scoring two runs, and the Reds lead 4-2. Dodgers bring Blake Treinen in to relieve Sheehan. Will Benson singles to right to extend the Reds’ lead to 5-2—Santiago Espinal singles to center. Gavin Lux strikes out swinging to end the inning.

9^th Inning: Reds bring in Tony Santillan to relieve Barlow. Miguel Rojas strikes out looking. The pitch hits Alex Freeland. Mookie Betts flies out to center for the second out. Shohei Ohtani flies out to center to end the game.

Final Score: Los Angeles Dodgers-2, Cincinnati Reds-5

Dodgers Player of the Game

Freddie Freeman, whose two-run home run put the only runs across the board

My Thoughts: Baseball is a game of inches and nothing could be truer whether it was Andy Pages who misplayed a foul ball that would have ended the inning but jumping for it or how Outman who robbed a home run by knocking the ball back into the field but was oh so close to coming down with the ball to get the Dodgers ouf of the inning but instead two runs scored and that’s just how baseball goes. The offense didn’t have their best showing, and the inability to get runs in after Freeman’s shot to go along with Ohtani only pitching three innings and coming out with what was deemed only cramps as Dodger Nation held its collective breath, made it a tough go from then on. Emmet Sheehan might have gotten lost, but the innings that he pitched saved the bullpen and will give the arms two days of rest instead of one heading into Tampa Bay. Can’t win them all, and the fact that the Dodgers won the series is a good thing, especially on the road.

Next Up: The Dodgers have an off day Thursday as they head to Florida to take on the Tampa Bay Rays. Clayton Kershaw will start game one for the Dodgers, while the Rays have not said which pitcher they will send out. First pitch is scheduled for 4:35 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.

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