Clayton Kershaw turned back time Tuesday night against the Cincinnati Reds, while a four-run sixth inning helped the Dodgers take the middle match of this three game set by a final score of 6-3.
The Reds attacked immediately against Kershaw, as Spencer Steer led of the game with a double before Elly De La Cruz singled to put runners at the corners with one out. Miguel Andujar drove in the game’s first run on a groundout, but the Reds wouldn’t reach base against Kershaw for the rest of the night.
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Dodgers put their first runner on base with Mookie Betts reaching on a one out walk against Nick Martinez. Freddie Freeman followed with a double down the left field line, but the relay throw to second base from Austin Hays kicked off the glove of Matt McLain, dribbling into right field and allowing Betts to score and tie the game.
The Dodgers put leadoff men on over the next two innings, but both times failed to capitalize. The Dodgers found better fortune in the bottom of the fourth inning, with Teoscar Hernández cracking a leadoff double and Michael Conforto reaching on an infield single that deflected off of Martinez’s glove. Kiké Hernández, back in the lineup for the first time since July 5, gave the Dodgers the lead with a sacrifice fly. Hernández would record two hits in three at-bats with an RBI and a run scored in his return.
Kershaw would go on to retire 14 straight hitters after the De La Cruz single in the first inning, recording five strikeouts over his final three innings of work. Kershaw would go on to complete five innings on just 72 pitches, with his six strikeouts being the most in a start since June 26 against the Colorado Rockies. Kershaw finishes the month of August a perfect 5-0 with an ERA of just 1.88, lowering his season ERA down to 3.06.
The Reds were thankful to see Kershaw depart after five innings, as they tacked on a pair of singles to begin Edgardo Henriquez’s night. Noelvi Marte attempted to bunt the runners over, but popped up the attempt which was caught by Henriquez. Henriquez fired to second base to double up McLain, and needed one pitch to get De La Cruz to pop out to retire the side.
Will Smith snapped a three game hitless skid with a solo home run to right center field that kicked off a sixth inning rally for the Dodgers. The Dodgers put two runners on base for pinch hitter Miguel Rojas, who responded with a two-run double that ultimately made the difference. Ohtani plated Rojas on a single to right field to give the Dodgers a five run lead.
Austin Hays cut the Dodger lead in half with a two-run home run off of Ben Casparius in the top of the seventh inning, but Casparius would recover to strike out the side. Blake Treinen tossed a scoreless eighth inning before Tanner Scott recorded his 20th save of the season, giving the Dodgers their third consecutive win.
With the San Diego Padres defeating the Seattle Mariners, the Dodgers division lead remains at one game.
Game particulars
- Home runs— Will Smith (16); Austin Hays (11)
- WP— Clayton Kershaw (9-2): 5 IP, 2 hits, 1 earned run, 0 walks, 6 strikeouts
- LP— Nick Martinez (10-6): 5 1/3 IP, 7 hits, 4 earned runs, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts
- SV— Tanner Scott (20): 1 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts
Up next
The Dodgers wrap up their season series against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday (5:40 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA) before hosting the division rival Arizona Diamondbacks beginning Friday. Shohei Ohtani makes his 11th start of the season against left-hander Nick Lodolo.
