Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Suddenly riding a three-game losing streak, the Dodgers were looking to salvage anything from this series and at least have a happy flight on getaway day. Thanks to Clayton Kershaw, the offense got enough time to do exactly that, as they got ahead early and then piled on late in an 8-0 win over the Reds to prevent a sweep.
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Sonny Gray has gotten off to a brutal start in 2021, but the stuff and pedigree is still there, which makes him a formidable opponent. He showed as much this afternoon.
After stranding a lead-off double in the 1st, the Dodgers got a rally going in the 2nd as well. Chris Taylor led-off with a walk, got to second on a wild pitch, and runners were on the corners with an AJ Pollock single. Luke Raley then continued his struggles by grounding into a double play, but hey, at least it scored a run to make it 1-0.
The lead doubled in the 3rd thanks to a Justin Turner homer, who I’m now convinced sold his soul or something as he has double the April dingers in 2021 as he had the rest of his career combined.
Kershaw had his string of three amazing starts broken last time out with three solo homers, but he got right back in the saddle this afternoon. The Dodgers not only needed quality due to the struggling bats but length due to the struggling bullpen, and Kershaw provided both.
While he faced minor threats in the 1st, 3rd, and 4th, he never faced any real trouble and was absolutely dominant over a Reds lineup that has gotten hot again recently. He finished with an impressive line: 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K, 90 Pitches.
Blake Treinen relieved him and got Angel Hernandez‘d on a check-swing HBP call, then gave up a single to put the lead in trouble again. However, he rebounded and got a scoreless frame.
Out of the jam! 💪 pic.twitter.com/oTTdeqcE1L
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) April 28, 2021
Desperately needing insurance, the Dodgers got exactly that against Sal Romano. With two outs in the 9th, a JT walk was the only thing they had going, but they quickly rallied with a CT3 fly ball triple, a Pollock single and then stolen base, a Raley intentional walk (yes, really), an Austin Barnes walk, back-to-back singles from Matt Beaty and Mookie Betts, and then a Gavin Lux walk before Alex Blandino relieved Romano and got JT out. Six runs in total to make it 8-0.
That allowed the Dodgers to use Garrett Cleavinger in the 9th, and he got the first two batters but then gave up a rolling single against the shift and got smoked by a comebacker. Fortunately, he looked alright, but he was removed for precautionary reasons.
Dennis Santana then closed it out with a strikeout and ended the Dodgers’ losing streak.
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Thanks.
Speaking of poor decisions.
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16-9 is quite good and quite nice.
The Dodgers will now travel to Milwaukee to play the Brewers for four games starting tomorrow at 1:40 PM HST/4:40 PM PST/7:40 PM EST with Trevor Bauer facing Eric Lauer.
