The Loss Angeles Dodgers had as many home runs in the game as the Cincinnati Reds had hits – three. Those three hits all came in different innings and the Reds were never able to get anything going at the plate as they came up empty against three Dodgers pitchers in a 7-0 loss.
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds (68-64) | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Los Angeles Dodgers (75-57) | 7 | 9 | 1 |
| W:Sheehan (5-2) L: Greene (5-4) | |||
| Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread | |||
Gavin Lux, who was presented with his 2024 World Series ring just prior to the game by the Dodgers, doubled with one out in the top of the 2nd inning. Spencer Steer then hit a ball 369 feet to left field, but he needed to hit it 370 because Michael Conforto made a leaping catch against the wall to steal extra-bases from him. Ke’Bryan Hayes then flew out to the warning track in the right field corner as the Reds stranded a runner at second.
The Dodgers would grab a lead with one swing of the bat. After battling for six pitches with Hunter Greene to lead off the bottom of the 3rd, Andy Pages took the 7th pitch and hit it into the Dodgers bullpen down the left field line to put Los Angeles up 1-0. Greene then gave up a single and a walk and found himself in trouble with Mookie Betts coming to the plate. The Reds starter got Betts to check his swing that resulted in a grounder back up the middle that Greene caught behind his back, then fired to second base where Matt McLain turned a double play. Greene then picked up a strikeout to end the inning and limit the damage to just the leadoff homer.
Los Angeles would add to their lead in the bottom of the 5th. Michael Conforto doubled to start the inning and then it was Andy Pages striking again, crushing his 2nd homer of the game to make it 3-0.
The next inning turned into a disaster for the Reds. Freddie Freeman led off with a double and then Hunter Greene walked Will Smith. That ended his night and Scott Barlow took over on the mound. He then walked the first batter he saw to load the bases. Barlow would rebound with back-to-back strikeouts. He then got a routine grounder to shortstop but Elly De La Cruz saw the ball go under his glove and the Dodgers would score two runs on the play to extend their lead to 5-0. TJ Friedl save another run or two on the next play when he made a sliding catch on a blooper to end the inning.
Maybe it didn’t matter, though, because in the top of the 7th Cincinnati picked up their second hit of the entire game when Austin Hays singled. No one else reached base and Hays was stranded there to end the top of the frame. In the bottom of the inning the Dodgers tacked on another run when Mookie Betts gave a fan a souvenir via a home run to the seats in left field that made it 6-0.
After another run for Los Angeles in the bottom of the 8th inning – the 4th inning in a row in which the Dodgers scored – the Reds headed to the 9th inning needing more runs than they had hits on the day. They would get a 1-out walk from Austin Hays and then a 2-out walk from Spencer Steer, but a strikeout would end the game and strand them both as the Dodgers held on for a 7-0 win to being the series.
Key Moment of the Game
The 2-run home run for Andy Pages in the 5th inning that made it 3-0. On a night when the Reds offense couldn’t do anything, that essentially put the game away.
Notes Worth Noting
The Dodgers had six extra-base hits in the game. Cincinnati had three hits total.
The Mets won on Monday, leaving the Reds 2.5 games back for the final wild card spot.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds vs Los Angeles Dodgers
Tuesday August 26th, 10:10pm ET
Nick Martinez (10-9, 4.59 ERA) vs Clayton Kershaw (8-2, 3.13 ERA)
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