The Dodgers needed one win to clinch their 13th NL West title since 2013. Instead, they were forced to go with an impromptu bullpen game, and the Cincinnati Reds slugged their way to a 6-2 victory on Wednesday.
The Dodgers created havoc on the base paths in the first inning, as a single and two walks helped load the bases against left-hander Andrew Abbot, but Miguel Rojas flew out to center field to keep the game scoreless.
In his first start at Great American Ball Park since tossing a no-hitter with
the San Francisco Giants in 2024, Blake Snell allowed a two-out single to Sal Stewart, only to pick him off trying to advance to second base in a scoreless first inning. That inning was all that Snell could go on Wednesday, as he ended up leaving early due to left groin tightness, leaving the bullpen to do the heavy lifting. Blake Treinen worked around a leadoff baserunner in a scoreless second inning in replacement of Snell.
After Mookie Betts connected for his second single against Abbot in the third inning, Will Smith brought home the game’s first run with an RBI double off the base of the right-center field wall.
Seth Halvorsen was the next man up out of the bullpen, but he was unable to keep the Dodgers in front as he allowed a two-out, two-run home run to Elly De La Cruz to give the Reds their first lead of the series. It was the fifth home run for De La Cruz against the Dodgers this season, and he has driven in all three runs for the Reds against Los Angeles this week.
Both Tommy Edman and Betts worked a walk against Abbott to begin the top of the fifth inning, but the Reds southpaw got two straight outs before being pulled after tossing 98 pitches over 4 2/3 innings. Julian Garcia needed just one pitch to get a weak fly ball out from Teoscar Hernández to escape further trouble.
Bobby Miller made his first big league appearance since tossing three innings against the Washington Nationals on September 6, tossing 2 1/3 innings on 47 pitches while allowing a run via a solo home run from Dane Myers to give the Reds a two-run lead.
The Dodgers proceeded to load the bases again in the top of the sixth against Garcia, and Edman cut the deficit to one run by bringing home Kyle Tucker on a groundout to first. Tejay Antone came in to face Mookie Betts with two on and two outs, and a leaping catch by De La Cruz at short helped the Reds get out of the jam with their lead intact.
Miller allowed a single to Stewart before plunking Tyler Stephenson to put the first two hitters on base to begin the top of the sixth inning. He managed to get one out before being pulled for Alex Vesia, and the Reds capitalized with a bloop RBI single from Juan Brito to give the Reds a two-run lead once again.
The Reds put runners at the corners against Jack Dreyer with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, and Sal Stewart connected for his third single of the game, driving home Matt McLain from third base to make it a three-run lead for Cincinnati. A walk to Eugenio Suárez loaded the bases, and pinch-hitter T.J. Friedl knocked home De La Cruz to make it a four-run lead, but a strong throw from Tommy Edman gunned down Stewart at home for the third out.
Left-hander Kris Bubic made his Dodgers debut on Wednesday, pitching a scoreless eighth inning while allowing just one hit and picking up his first two strikeouts with his new team.
Game particulars
- Home runs— Elly De La Cruz (28), Dane Myers (7)
- WP— Julian Garcia (3-3): 1 IP, 2 hits, 1 earned run, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
- LP— Seth Halvorsen (1-2): 1 IP, 2 hits, 2 earned runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts
Up next
The Dodgers wrap things up in Cincinnati on Thursday (9:40 a.m. PT) before they head back home for their final homestand of the regular season. Brady Singer goes for the Reds while the Dodgers have yet to announce their starter.
