KSReds: Cincinnati Reds Swept by Los Angeles Dodgers

The losses are really starting to pile up for the Cincinnati Reds. They have now lost seven straight games with back-to-back series sweeps at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers. The overall record is now an ugly 23-46. Luckily, they are done playing the Dodgers this season after losing all seven matchups to the 2020 World Series Champions.

Next up for the Reds is a quick flight across the country to San Francisco for a three game weekend series against the Giants. Graham Ashcraft is scheduled to take the mound on Friday night at 10:15 p.m. Eastern Time. Mike Minor and Tyler Mahle are also slated to make starts out west for the Reds.

Leadoff Home Run Not Enough For the Reds

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith hit a solo home run in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. However, Jonathan India smacked a leadoff homer in the bottom half to immediately tie the game. Albert Almora Jr. then went deep in the second to give the Cincinnati Reds a 2-1 advantage. From that point on, it was all Dodgers.

Freddie Freeman doubled in a pair of runs to take back the lead for Los Angeles in the third inning. Then, the Dodgers added to it with a sacrifice fly in the fourth to make it 4-2. Tyler Mahle settled in a little bit on the mound at that point, but the offense never could get going for the Reds.

Freeman added a two RBI triple in the eighth inning as the Dodgers would go on to win 8-2 on the back of seven unanswered runs. Mahle was saddled with the loss allowing 12 hits in six innings of work. He is just 2-6 on the season with a 4.57 earned run average.

Freddie Freeman Stays Hot as Dodgers Take Game Two

For the second time in as many nights the Cincinnati Reds held an early advantage against the Dodgers. This time a three run second inning had them on top 3-0. Donovan Solano made his club debut with a RBI double to get on the scoreboard. Then, the Reds took advantage of an infield single, throwing error, and wild pitch to push two more runs across.

Also for the second time in as many nights, Freddie Freeman and the Los Angeles Dodgers mounted a comeback. The veteran first baseman had another multi-hit, multi-RBI game including a seventh inning go-ahead home run to solidify the victory. Los Angeles scored four answered runs two different times to win 8-4 and hand the Reds their sixth straight loss.

Kershaw, Freeman Lead Dodgers to Sweep Versus Reds

The Freddie Freeman show continued for the third day in a row at Great American Ball Park. He finished with 10 RBI in the series sweep after belting a two-run home run in the third inning and a run scoring single in the eighth on Thursday afternoon. Freeman has 14 total RBI in seven games against the Reds this season. Los Angeles has won all seven of those matchups.

After building early leads on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Reds fell behind 5-0 in this one on Thursday as Hunter Greene once again couldn’t keep the ball in the park. The Dodgers belted three home runs off of the Reds rookie before exiting after five innings. Greene allowed six runs on nine hits while only striking out three batters. He now leads Major League Baseball in home runs allowed.

To the Reds credit, they did not roll over. Clayton Kershaw was dominant allowing just one run through six innings and striking out seven. However, Brandon Drury drove home a run in the seventh followed by a Tommy Pham three run home run to make it 8-5 and provide a little life in the home dugout.