Andre Ethier got back on track with a three-run homer, Clayton Kershaw pitched strong into the eighth inning, and the Dodgers got another win over the Reds, 6-2. The Dodgers are now an amazing 25-6 against the Reds since 2006.
The Blue Jays blew out the Padres as well, 7-1. Now the Dodgers have a 1/2 game lead in the NL West. But don't get too comfortable, the Giants are only one game back. It changes by the hour it seems.
This game was a great matchup of two young pitching studs: Kershaw and Mike Leake. Through four innings, both men put up blanks. The Dodgers had two men on in the third and fourth, but couldn't push any runs across.
That changed in the fifth, and it started with Rafael Furcal's leadoff single. Russell Martin also singled. Ethier struck out, but Manny Ramirez drew a walk to load 'em up. James Loney hit a two-run double to go up 2-0.
The Reds tried to slash the lead in half in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, Orlando Cabrera singled to Manny in left. Ramon Hernandez tried to score, but Manny gunned him out. It's not often (or ever) that I get to write those words, so I'll enjoy it while it lasts.
In the sixth, the Dodgers took a comfortable lead. Blake DeWitt led off with a walk. Kershaw sacrificed him over to second, where Russell Martin singled him over to third an out later. Ethier has struggled since returning from the DL, but he got the big hit he was waiting for with a three-run shot, putting the Dodgers up 5-0.
The bottom of the inning saw the Reds get a one and a two: one run on a sac-fly RBI from Jonny Gomes, and two ejections. Scott Rolen took a pretty low pitch for a called third strike, argued immediately, and was tossed. Dusty Baker came out, argued as well, and was run.
Like the night before, if it could go wrong for the Reds, it did.
Manny added a solo shot in the ninth, his seventh and second in consecutive games. Hong-Chih Kuo got credited with a save by pitching out of a jam in the eighth and finishing it up.
Kershaw had another really good performance. He went 7 1/3 for seven hits, one run, one walk, and seven strikeouts. His fastball was popping all night. He's now up to 7-3 with a 2.96 ERA.
As for the Reds, they have been one of the surprise teams this year. But, they've now dropped six of nine, and haven't been competitive at all these last two games. The Cardinals are now tied with them for the top of the NL Central.
With Ethier and Manny hitting homers, it's obviously a good sign for the heart of the order. The Dodgers need these two driving in runs to stay in first. Matt Kemp was only 1-for-5 with three strikeouts. Hopefully he can snap out of his funk soon so he can join in on the fun.
Thursday will be the final game in Cincinnati before going to Fenway Park for three. It'll be an afternoon start with John Ely going against Bronson Arroyo. Ely has come back to Earth a bit after a brilliant start, so he'll look to pitch deeper into the game.
2 comments:
Nice to see Dre get that homerun after going more than a month without one. Hopefully this gets him back on track.
Ya we all hope so. He's been pressing too much. Not surprising considering how red hot he was. He'll figure it out.
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