The Los Angeles Dodgers made up for missed opportunities at Great American Ball Park as Will Smith, Gavin Lux and Corey Seager each hit a home run to help get an 8-5 win against the Cincinnati Reds in the rubber match.
After two consecutive games without a homer at the hitter-friendly ballpark, Smith changed that with a solo blast off Wade Miley in the second inning. After a Chris Taylor base hit, Lux slugged a two-run homer that extended the Dodgers’ lead to 3-0.
Miley’s troubles continued in the third inning when an Albert Pujols walk set the table for Seager to hit a two-run home run. Taylor and Lux then added to their days with a double and RBI single, respectively.
Lux now is 11-for-24 with one double, one triple, one home run and eight RBI getting recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sept. 10.
Came in like a wrecking ball. pic.twitter.com/KPbAvO0Xq0
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 19, 2021
And we can't stop.
And we won't stop. pic.twitter.com/5MvzEW1Qnn— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 19, 2021
Dominant outing from 22. pic.twitter.com/9xwoxCsgpc
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 19, 2021
The Dodgers largely went quiet after back-to-back innings with three runs, but the early lead was more than enough for Clayton Kershaw and the bullpen also made it stand after allowing the Reds back into the game.
Kershaw didn’t face much trouble in his outing as he held the Reds to two hits and collected eight strikeouts over five innings. One-out singles in the second and third innings were stranded both times.
Nick Castellanos’ double in the fourth wound up leading to a run as he advanced to third base on a wild pitch and scored when Tyler Stephenson grounded out.
Kershaw retired the final five batters faced, and on top of the results, success was achieved by stretching his pitch count to 74.
Relegated to a bullpen role for the current turn through the rotation, Tony Gonsolin’s first pitch was hit for a leadoff home run in the sixth inning. Gonsolin later allowed a second run before giving way to Blake Treinen.
L.A. responded with two runs in the ninth which were key as Kenley Jansen surrendered a solo home run before finishing out the game.
Dodgers inch closer
The Dodgers’ win, coupled with the San Francisco Giants falling to the Atlanta Braves, pulled them to one game back of first place in the National League West standings.
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