LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani was back in the starting lineup after missing four games, and while he went hitless, Emmet Sheehan made sure that barely mattered, striking out ten over 5.2 innings while Teoscar Hernández supplied the signature blow. Hernández launched a three run homer in the sixth that turned a one run lead into control as the Dodgers took the series opener from the Reds 6-3 at Dodger Stadium.
Elly De La Cruz Strikes First
Elly De La Cruz ambushed Sheehan for a leadoff solo homer to center in the first that put Cincinnati up 1-0, and it looked like it might be a long night. Instead, Sheehan buckled down and didn’t let another Red reach base for four straight innings, piling up strikeouts while Chase Burns matched zeros for Cincinnati on the other side.
A Costly Reds Error Flips It
Los Angeles finally broke through in the fifth, with an assist from Cincinnati’s defense. Teoscar Hernández opened the inning with a single and stole second, and after Kyle Tucker and Hunter Feduccia struck out, Alex Call was hit by a pitch to keep the inning alive.
Miguel Rojas, in as a pinch hitter for Alex Freeland, chopped a ball to third that Ke’Bryan Hayes threw away, and both Hernández and Call came around to score on the error, putting the Dodgers ahead 2-1.
Teoscar Hernández Blows It Open
Cincinnati finally got back to Sheehan in the sixth, stringing together two singles and a walk to load the bases, and manager Dave Roberts turned to Alex Vesia to put out the fire. Vesia struck out JJ Bleday to strand all three, closing the book on Sheehan’s night at 5.2 innings and ten strikeouts.
The lineup made sure it didn’t matter. Freddie Freeman drew a walk and stole second, Max Muncy walked as well, and Hernández turned on a Brandon Williamson pitch for a three run homer to left, his 13th of the year, that made it 5-1 and sent Dodger Stadium into a roar.
Reds Chip Away Late
Cincinnati wasn’t finished. Eugenio Suárez answered with a solo homer off Seth Halvorsen in the seventh to cut it to 5-2, and in the eighth the Reds strung together two singles and a stolen base off Jack Dreyer before a groundout brought home another run, pulling within 5-3 and putting some pressure on a Dodgers bullpen that had already cycled through four arms behind Sheehan.
Insurance in the Eighth
Los Angeles answered right back. Tommy Edman reached on an error to open the bottom of the eighth, and Max Muncy ripped a double to right to put runners on the corners. Cincinnati intentionally walked Hernández to load the bases and set up a force at every base, but Kyle Tucker’s grounder forced Edman out at the plate instead.
Will Smith, pinch hitting for Hunter Feduccia, lifted a sacrifice fly deep enough to bring home Muncy, pushing the lead back to three at 6-3 and taking some of the drama out of the ninth.
Phillips Locks It Down
Evan Phillips took over in the ninth and made quick work of it, striking out two and retiring the side in order for his first save of the year, sealing a 6-3 win. Teoscar would finish the night 2-for-3 with a homer, three RBI and a stolen base, backing up a strong start from Sheehan and giving the Dodgers a second straight win built on a big swing in the middle innings.
Up Next
The Dodgers and Reds are back at it Tuesday, with Tarik Skubal on the mound against Nick Lodolo. First pitch from Chavez Ravine is set for 7:10 p.m. PST.
