Los Angeles Dodgers avoided losing their first series since dropping two of three to the San Francisco Giants from April 30-May 1 by shutting out the Cincinnati Reds, 8-3. Los Angeles also improved to 20-7 this season when scoring first.
They got on the board in the second inning when Alex Verdugo drove a line-drive double into center field to score Corey Seager from first base after he worked a one-out walk. The double was Verdugo’s ninth of the year, putting him just behind Seager (11) and Cody Bellinger (10), though he later tied for second on the team.
Tanner Roark then faced trouble in the third when a walk by Joc Pederson and Max Muncy’s base hit put runners at the corners.
Back in the lineup after being limited to a pinch-hit appearance because of a bruised shin, Justin Turner’s 103.1 mph line drive went under Jose Peraza’s glove, extending the Dodgers’ lead to 2-0.
Roark issued three walks and threw 87 pitches over just five innings but managed to limit damage by matching a season high with seven strikeouts. Insurance finally came in the seventh inning when Bellinger clubbed a two-run homer off lefty reliever Wandy Peralta.
Russell Martin added a solo blast to straightaway center field in the eighth inning. A wild pitch with the bases loaded in the ninth plated another run and Verdugo added a two-run double for good measure.
Hyun-Jin Ryu did not pitch with more late-game drama as he allowed a leadoff single in the bottom of the first inning but he turned in another strong start to get through eight. The Reds had at least one baserunner through each of the first five innings.
Ryu scattered five hits and extended his scoreless streak to 31 consecutive innings. Cincinnati threatened in the bottom of the first when Eugenio Suarez walked to put two on with one out.
Ryu escaped the small jam by inducing Yasiel Puig into an inning-ending double play. A single and passed ball moved Nick Senzel into scoring position, but he was stranded by Joey Votto and Suarez.
The Reds’ runs came on back-to-back homers by Jose Peraza and Derek Dietrich off Yimi Garcia with two outs in the ninth inning.
