Reds win the bullpen battle

Tie game, eighth inning, bullpens at work. Who would get the edge?

Not the Dodgers. Not with this bullpen.

The Reds scored a couple of late runs to edge the Dodgers, 3-2. After a 5-5 road trip that included some tough stops, the Dodgers have dropped the first two games of a 12-game homestand. Not exactly the best way to create momentum.

The Dodgers were given a gift run in the first. Dee Gordon got another shot at leadoff, and he singled. Jamey Carroll then took a walk. Andre Ethier hit a grounder that forced Carroll at second, but his hard slide into Brandon Phillips caused a bad throw to first, as Gordon came home for the 1-0 lead.

Clayton Kershaw got through the first three frames with ease thanks to a double play in the second. Daniel Stubbs led off the fourth with a single and stole second an out later. With two outs, Jay Bruce walked to prolong the inning. Scott Rolen then tied the game with an RBI single, but Tony Gwynn nailed Bruce at home to keep the score at 1-1.

That's the way the score would remain until late in the game. Gorden used his speed to try and give the Dodgers a lead in the sixth, but it was all for naught. He reached on a bunt single and took second on Johnny Cueto's error. He soon stole third with two outs, but Ethier struck out to end the inning.

With the score tied at 1, Don Mattingly turned the ball over to Blake Hawksworth starting in the eighth. Hawkworth proceeded to allow singles to Miguel Cairo and Phillips with one out. Needing a lefty to face Joey Votto, Scott Elbert was summoned, and promptly gave up an RBI single to him. Mike MacDougal came on to get the final out of the inning to keep it at 2-1.

MacDougal stayed on to pitch the ninth, and once again the 'pen could not keep the score as is. Ramon Hernandez walked with one down. An out later, Fred Lewis singled to keep the inning going. MacDougal couldn't get out of the inning as Daniel Stubbs hit an RBI single to make it 3-1.

Francisco Cordero came on for the save, and Ethier flew out to deep right leading off. Kemp then walked and stole second. James Loney cut the deficit to one with an RBI single, and the Dodgers were in good shape to tie the game. But, Casey Blake struck out and Rod Barajas popped up to end the game.

In a way, the results the last couple of nights aren't too surprising. The Dodgers just aren't a consistent enough team to build on some positive momentum from this past weekend. It seems like the second they show signs of life, they go right back to where they started. Now at 31-38, they are going to have to turn it on to even get to .500.

Kershaw bounced back from a couple of disappointing outings in which he started off well and then fell apart. In this one he lasted seven innings for four hits, one run, two walks, and four strikeouts. He took a no-decision, his third straight one, so his record remains at 6-3.

The offense collected only seven hits, which isn't too surprising considering they are very streaky and were facing a great pitcher in Cueto, who's putting it all together this year with a 4-2 record an 1.68 ERA. Gordon was the only one to make any noise, collecting two hits with a run and stolen base. That's a very positive sign for the future.

So, once again, the Dodgers had to trust their bullpen to come through, and it didn't happen. Hawkworth has now given up a run in two straight appearances, raising his ERA from 2.57 to 3.27. Elbert is the only lefty option with Hong-Chih Kuo out, and his ERA is 5.19. MacDougal has pitched well all year, and even he gave up a run. Nothing could go right.

The Dodgers will try to avoid a sweep with a Wednesday afternoon tilt. They then get an off day Thursday before welcoming the Astros in town for three. Hopefully Chad Billingsley can get this team back on the winning side.