Dodgers 8, Reds 2: Kyle Tucker’s 4-hit day leads the Dodgers to an NL West clinching win

After they dropped a mess of a game yesterday, the Dodgers came back way too early today to clinch the series against the Reds with a 8-2 victory. They did so behind a four-hit game from Kyle Tucker and a bullpen game that was largely effective, which also notably clinched the NL West.

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Reds starter Brady Singer has not been good this year and things only got worse against the Dodgers.

The fireworks started immediately when a one-out Freddie Freeman walk in the 1st was followed by Kyle Tucker scorching his 16th homer to right for a 2-0 Dodgers lead.

An infield single and hit batter followed that but with both stranded, though that stuff thankfully didn’t continue on today.

The 2nd started with an Alex Freeland walk and Miguel Rojas single, and both were in scoring position when Tommy Edman laid down a sac bunt. Freddie was then robbed on a great Dane Myers catch for a sac fly, and Tucker followed with a double to plate another and make it 4-0 Dodgers before the rally ended.

After a lead-off single and one-out walk were stranded in the 3rd, it was disaster in the 4th. After Tommy Edman was hit by a pitch and picked off on a questionable out-of-baseline ruling, Freddie singled, Tucker singled, and Teoscar Hernandez drew a walk to load things up. The Dodgers came through in that situation for once, as Max Muncy doubled to plate both Freddie and Tucker, and Josue De Paula ripped a single to right to plate Teoscar to make it 7-0 Dodgers.

That was all for Singer.

The Reds pen finished the 4th and was surprisingly effective, giving up just a two-out single in the 5th, a pair of two-out walks in the 6th, getting a clean 7th, and stranding a lead-off double in the 8th.

Tucker almost got a cycle, but stopped at second.

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Starting as the bulk guy/opener for the pen game was Justin Wrobleski, who made a strong case for his playoff role, going nine up and nine down through three frames.

Blake Treinen then started the parade of relievers, striking out the first two of the 4th but then giving up a homer to Sal Stewart to make it 7-1 Dodgers.

Another bulk guy entered in the 5th in the form of Landon Knack, and he got around a two-out triple, stranded a lead-off single in the 6th and 7th, and gave up just a two-out single in the 8th. Four excellent shutout frames.

The Dodgers actually added another run in the 9th via Miguel Rojas’ fourth homer of the year to make it 8-1 Dodgers.

The 9th was given to Seth Halvorsen, who gave up a one-out single and double, one of which scored on a grounder to make it 8-2 Dodgers before he was able to get the final out.

Celebration stuff to follow.

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For the JDP update corner, other than the RBI single, he also flied out, got unfortunate on a lineout, walked, and grounded out for a 1-for-4 day.

It’s .133 now.

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NL SeedingRecordGB
Brewers95-57*
Dodgers93-602.5
Braves89-64*6.5

The Dodgers will now finally return home after a 4-3 road trip, squaring off with the rival Giants for three. It’ll start at 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM/10:10 PM ET on Apple TV with Tyler Glasnow (I think) facing Cesar Perdomo.

About Chad Moriyama

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"A highly rational Internet troll." - Los Angeles Times