The Los Angeles Dodgers got back in the win column against the Cincinnati Reds with a 7-3 victory backed by three home runs and a solid start turned in by James Paxton.
Mookie Betts started the scoring with a leadoff home run against Frankie Montas. It was the 51st leadoff home run of his career and 31st with the Dodgers.
In the third inning, Betts reached on a fielder’s choice, and Shohei Ohtani followed with his 13th home run of the year to put the Dodgers up 3-0. Earlier in the day, Los Angeles City Council named May 17 as “Shohei Ohtani Day” in the city for the next 10 years, so the superstar had to celebrate in the best way.
The Dodgers did not score again until the seventh inning, after the Reds chipped away to tie the game. Kiké Hernández reached on a single to set up the rally, and after Ohtani reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to second on an error, the Reds intentionally walked Freddie Freeman.
That put two runners on base for Will Smith, who singled home Ohtani to put the Dodgers back on top, 4-3. Freeman then ended up scoring on a wild pitch to give the Dodgers an insurance run.
In his first game back in the lineup, Jason Heyward homered in the eighth inning to extend the Dodgers lead, following a single from Andy Pages.
The Reds scored their first run when Jonathan India reached third following a single, wild pitch and ground out. He scored when Spencer Steer reached on a throwing error from Betts, but it made no impact on the run crossing.
In the fifth, Stuart Fairchild homered to cut the lead to one run, and the Reds tied it in the next inning on a home run from Tyler Stephenson.
Paxton finished his night going six innings, giving up the three runs on seven hits with two strikeouts. But most notably, he didn’t walk anyone for the second straight game.
Dodgers bullpen effective against Reds
Following Paxton, Michael Grove pitched the seventh and Blake Treinen worked the eighth, both throwing a scoreless frame. Treinen continues to show he’s completely passed his injury issues and looks like he’ll be an important part of the bullpen, as long as he continues to stay healthy.
Daniel Hudson pitched the ninth inning to close out the game.
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