Yoshinobu Pitches Gem, Dodgers Win 5-2

Quick Stats:

• Yoshinobu Yamamoto(LAD): 0 IP, 4 Hits, 1 Run, 2 Walks, 9 Strikeouts(Win)
• Chase Burns(CIN): 2 IP, 6 Hits, 3 Runs, 1 Walk, 10 Strikeouts(Loss)
• Mookie Betts(LAD): 2-4
• Shohei Ohtani(LAD): 1-3
• Teoscar Hernandez(LAD): 2-5
• Miguel Rojas(LAD): 1-4 

LAD: 9 Hits, 5 Runs, 4 Walks, 13 Strikeouts

CIN: 6 Hits, 2 Runs, 5 Walks, 12 Strikeouts

The Game Story:

1^st Inning: Mookie Betts opens the game by doubling to left field—Shohei Ohtani grounds out to first, moving Betts to third. Teoscar Hernandez singles to left, scoring the run, and the Dodgers lead 1-0. Freddie Freeman strikes out swinging for the second out. Andy Pages strikes out swinging to end the top half of the inning. TJ Friedl pops out to third. Matt McLain singles to right. Elly De La Cruz draws a walk, and Austin Hays singles to left. Gavin Lux grounds out to second, scoring the run, and the game is tied 1-1. Spencer Steer lines out to left to end the inning.

2^nd Inning: Michael Conforto draws a walk. Hyeseong Kim strikes out swinging. Miguel Rojas strikes out swinging for the second out. Dalton Rushing strikes out swinging to end the top half of the inning. Tyler Stephenson strikes out swinging. Will Benson strikes out swinging for the second out. Noelvi Marte grounds out to first to end the inning.

3^rd Inning: Mookie Betts grounds out to short. Shohei Ohtani grounds out to short for the second out. Teoscar Hernandez strikes out swinging to end the top half of the inning. TJ Friedl doubles to right. Matt McLain strikes out swinging. Elly De La Cruz hits a single to left to put runners on first and third with one out. Austin Hays strikes out swinging for the second out. Gavin Lux comes up to bat. De La Cruz steals second. Lux pops out to short to end the inning.

4^th Inning: Freddie Freeman flies out to left—Andy Pages singles to center. Michael Conforto flies out to left for the second out. Hyeseong Kim strikes out looking to end the top half of the inning. Spencer Steer flies out to left. Tyler Stephenson strikes out swinging for the second out. Will Benson flies out to left to end the inning.

5^th Inning: Miguel Rojas doubles to left. Dalton Rushing strikes out swinging—Mookie Betts singles to left to put runners on first and third with one out. Shohei Ohtani doubles to center, and two runs score, and the Dodgers lead 3-1. Teoscar Hernandez strikes out swinging for the second out. Freddie Freeman pops out to second to end the top half of the inning. Noelvi Marte grounds out to short. TJ Friedl pops out to short for the second out. Matt McLain strikes out swinging to end the inning.

6^th Inning:  Andy Pages flies out to right. Michael Conforto strikes out swinging but reaches first on a passed ball. Hyeseong Kim goes on a wild throw by the third baseman, and runners are on first and third with one out. Miguel Rojas tries a squeeze play, and the runner is thrown out at home for the second out while Rojas reaches first. Sam Moll comes in to relieve Burns for the Reds. Dalton Rushing lines out to right to end the top half of the inning. Elly De La Cruz strikes out looking. Austin Hays grounds out to third for the second out. Gavin Lux draws a walk. Spencer Steer pops out to third to end the inning.

7^th Inning: Mookie Betts draws a walk. Shohei Ohtani comes up to bat. Betts steals second. Ohtani draws a walk to put runners on first and second with no outs. Teoscar Hernandez singles to left, scoring a run, and the Dodgers extend the lead to 4-1 as runners are on first and third. Freddie Freeman singles to score a run correctly, and the score is now 5-1. Andy Pages strikes out looking. Taylor Rogers comes in to relieve Scott Barlow—Michael Conforto singles to left. Hyeseong Kim pops out to short for the second out. Miguel Rojas grounds out to short to end the top half of the inning. Tyler Stephenson strikes out swinging. Will Benson strikes out swinging for the second out. Noelvi Marte grounds out to second to end the inning.

8^th Inning: Dalton Rushing is hit by the pitch—Mookie Betts grounds into a double play. Shohei Ohtani draws a walk. Lyon Richardson comes in to relieve Taylor Rogers. Teoscar Hernandez strikes out swinging to end the top half of the inning. James Outman replaces Hernandez and moves to center field. Andy Pages moves to the right. Alex Vesia comes in to relieve Yamamoto. TJ Friedl grounds out to second. Matt McLain draws a walk. Elly De La Cruz strikes out swinging for the second out. Austin Hays grounds out to short to end the inning.

9^th Inning: Brent Suter comes in to relieve Richardson. Freddie Freeman flies out to left. Andy Pages flies out to right for the second out. Michael Conforto strikes out swinging to end the top half of the inning. Blake Treinen comes in to relieve Vesia. Gavin Lux draws a walk. Spencer Steer strikes out looking. Tyler Stephenson singles to right, putting runners on first and second with one out. Will Benson singles to put Lux on base, and the score is 5-2, with runners on first and third. Noelvi Marte strikes out swinging for the second out. TJ Friedl draws a walk to load the bases. Jack Dreyer comes in to relieve Treinen. Esteury Ruiz comes in to replace Conforto in left. Matt McLain grounds out to short to end the game.

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

Dodgers Player of the Game

Yoshinobu Yamamoto gets the nod for his outstanding work for seven innings and put his team in a position to get the victory.

My Thoughts: A starting pitcher going deep into a game and shutting down a potent Reds offense was a good sight to see. The offense, moving runners and getting timely hits to put runs on the board, was a welcome sight. After losing a series that most pundits believed they should have won, the Dodgers looked to play a complete game, on the road nonetheless, and secure the opening series win. Blake Treinen, coming back, looked rusty, which is to be expected. He ended up loading the bases and was unable to get the third out in the ninth. While he did not look like his usual self, it was vital for him to get back on the mound and get his feet wet at the Major League level. More reinforcements are on the way, with Max Muncy possibly rejoining the team in a week and Blake Snell returning to the rotation, which will make the trade deadline a must-see. This will answer the question of what the Dodgers are going to do about Dustin May, who should be addressed soon.

Next Up:  Dodgers send out Tyler Glasnow to face off against Nick Lodolo for the Reds. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 PM PST. The game will be aired 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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