Dodgers Rally to Beat Cincinnati, 6-4, After Fernando Is Bombed

Mike Marshall’s two-run single highlighted a five-run second inning Saturday night and the Dodgers overcome three first-inning homers off Fernando Valenzuela and beat the Cincinnati Reds, 6-4.

The Dodgers won for the seventh time in eight games and solidified their hold on first place in the National League West. The fourth-place Reds have lost 5 of 6 and fell 8 1/2 games back, their biggest deficit of the season.

The Reds started with a flourish, knocking Valenzuela out of the game in the first inning for the first time in his eight-year career. Barry Larkin led off with his seventh homer, Eric Davis hit a two-run homer, and Paul O’Neill followed with a solo homer for a 4-0 lead with two out. Brian Holton (3-1) retired pitcher Jose Rijo to end the inning.

Rijo (8-3) couldn’t hold the lead as the Dodgers sent 10 batters to the plate for six hits and took a 5-4 lead with five runs in the second.

Dave Anderson and pinch-hitter Danny Heep hit run-scoring singles and Marshall singled up the middle with the bases loaded and two out to tie the game. John Shelby then singled on the first pitch from reliever Tim Birtsas to score Kirk Gibson with the go-ahead run.

Mickey Hatcher drove in the Dodgers’ final run with an RBI forceout in the sixth inning.

Tim Crews shut the Reds out on two hits through four innings, Alejandro Pena allowed two hits and struck out five in 3 innings and Jesse Orosco got one out for his fifth save. The Dodgers made four double plays.

The Reds’ three-homer inning off Valenzuela was their first since May 3 last year, when they hit three in one inning in Philadelphia.