Seven-run outburst, Andrew Heaney’s dominant start lead Dodgers to sixth straight win
There was a bloop single. Two walks. Three doubles. Six total hits. And a carousel around the bases.
By the time the fourth inning was over Sunday, the game effectively was too, the Dodgers riding a seven-run outburst against Cincinnati Reds starter Tyler Mahle to a 9-1 win at Dodger Stadium.
The victory was the sixth in a row for the Dodgers (7-2), who completed their second consecutive series sweep by following a familiar formula: They got good pitching, with starter Andrew Heaney striking out 11 over six scoreless innings, and their lineup came alive for one big frame, sending 11 batters to the plate during a relentless fourth.
“That just shows what this lineup is capable of doing,” said Freddie Freeman, who led the Dodgers with four hits and three RBIs. “Every guy is pretty much a game-changer.”
Dodgers win, 9-1
Justin Bruihl still pitching in the top of the ninth, and he hit Alejo Lopez with his first pitch of the inning. Tyler Stephenson struck out. Aristides Aquino struck out. Aramis Garcia struck out. Dodgers win, 9-1, and increase their winning streak to six. They are now 7-2. Dodger pitchers struck out 15. And it’s the first time they swept a four-game series from the Reds since 1975.
Final score: Dodgers 9, Reds 1
We go to the ninth, Dodgers have a big lead
Alex Vesia came in to pitch the top of the seventh for the Dodgers and retired the side in order, striking out one. Hanser Alberto replaced Max Muncy at third to give him an early rest.
In the bottom half, Alberto grounded to short, Edwin Ríos, batting for Justin Turner, struck out. Will Smith walked. Cody Bellinger struck out.
In the top of the eighth, Vesia gave up a double to Drury and a single to Fraley, putting runners on the corners. That brought Justin Bruihl into the game. Moran grounded hard to first. Freeman stepped on first and threw Drury out at home. Great, great play. Naquin then singled, scoring Fraley. Pham grounded to second.
In the bottom half, Chris Taylor walked, Gavin Lux forced him at second. Mookie Betts walked. Freddie Freeman singled to left, scoring Lux. That gives Trea Turner a chance to extend his hitting streak to 28 games. He lined hard to short. Alberto singled to center, scoring Betts. Ríos grounded to the pitcher.
Score after eight: Dodgers 9, Reds 1
Dodgers still lead 7-0, Andrew Heaney has 11 strikeouts
Andrew Heaney retired the Reds in order on eight pitches in the top of the fifth, striking out one to increase his total to nine. The Dodgers went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the fifth.
In the top of the sixth, Heaney struck out two more Reds, giving him 11 strikeouts through six. That will more than likely be his last inning. He gave up one hit and three walks while throwing 89 pitches.
In the bottom of the sixth, right-hander Alexis Diaz came in to pitch. He struck out Bellinger and Taylor, then walked Lux and Betts. Freeman singled to load the bases. Trea Turner grounded to second. He has no hits today, threatening to end his hitting streak at 27.
Dodgers lead 7-0, Andrew Heaney has eight strikeouts
The Reds threatened in the top of the third. With one out, Brandon Drury walked. Jake Fraley flied to left, then former Dodger Kyle Farmer doubled Drury to third. Tyler Naquin then lined to third to end the threat.
In the bottom of the third, the Dodgers went down in order. Chris Taylor struck out, Gavin Lux flied to right and Mookie Betts grounded to short.
In the top of the fourth, Heaney struck out Tommy Pham swinging on a slider. He struck out Joey Votto swinging on a slider. He walked Tyler Stephenson and the struck out Aristides Aquino swinging on a slider. Eight strikeouts through four innings.
In the bottom of the inning, Freddie Freeman singled to center, Trea Turner walked on four pitches and Max Muncy hit the first pitch for a double to right, scoring both runners. Justin Turner hit a grounder up the middle. Kyle Farmer stopped it, but Turner reached first, putting runners on the corner with none out. Will Smith doubled to left, scoring Muncy. 3-0 Dodgers. Cody Bellinger grounded hard to second, runners held. Chris Taylor doubled to left-center, making it 5-0 Dodgers. Gavin Lux walked. First and second, one out for Mookie Betts, who watched the runners steal second and third. Betts struck out swinging. Freeman, who led off the inning, singled to center, scoring both runners. It’s 7-0 Dodgers. And that’s it for Reds starter Tyler Mahle. He is replaced by Luis Cessa, who was the opener for the first game of the series. Trea Turner flied to right.
Score after four: Dodgers 7, Reds 0
No score after two innings
Left-hander Andrew Heaney on the mound for the Dodgers against right-hander Tyler Mahle of the Reds. A quick first inning, as both teams went down in order, with Heaney striking out one and Mahle two.
Heaney then came out in the second inning and struck out the side, looking dominant. Four strikeouts through two innings.
Justin Turner got a one-out double in the bottom of the second, his first extra-base hit of the season. But he was stranded when Will Smith flied to right and Cody Bellinger fouled to the catcher on a 3-0 pitch.
Today’s starting lineups
No sign of Trevor Bauer at Dodger Stadium
There was no sign of Trevor Bauer at Dodger Stadium on Sunday morning.
Days after The Times reported Bauer was exploring whether there was in fact a binding agreement in place when the league and players union on Wednesday extended his administrative leave until April 22, it remained to be seen if Bauer would try showing up to Dodger Stadium on Sunday.
However, a source told The Times’ Bill Shaikin that Bauer was “not expected to show up.” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also said he had “not seen anything” when asked if Bauer showed up pregame.
Bauer has been on administrative leave since last July, as the league has investigated him after allegations against him of sexual assault.
At the start of spring training, his administrative leave was extended through April 16 — leaving it set to expire Sunday.
While the league and union had a written agreement last week to extend his leave through April 22, Bauer was exploring whether that agreement was in fact binding. If he took the position it wasn’t binding, he could have tried showing up at the ballpark.
But, at least before first pitch, there was no indication he tried gaining access to Chavez Ravine.
Roberts said the lingering situation was not a distraction or frustration for the team. He also said he did not know when it might be resolved.
“It’s so out of my control or any of our controls,” Roberts said. “So I think that we’re just kind of focused on what we can control. So that’s kind of our mindset.”
Bickford returns
After being optioned to triple-A Oklahoma City at the start of the season to keep building up arm strength after the shortened spring, reliever Phil Bickford was recalled to the Dodgers for Sunday’s game.
Left-hander Garrett Cleavinger was optioned in a corresponding move.
Roberts said Bickford is built up and can pitch back-to-back games if needed. The only restriction on the right-hander currently is that he won’t be used to pitch more than one inning at a time.
Chet Brewer’s best delivery was helping Black players reach the major leagues
It was only one at-bat, but it changed the direction of Reggie Smith’s career.
Long before he was a World Series champion, a seven-time All-Star or 17-year major league outfielder, Smith was a young player growing up in South Los Angeles, trying to become a switch-hitter during his high school years.
One day early in the process, he came to the plate with men on base. Even though a right-handed pitcher stood atop the mound, Smith initially stayed on his familiar right-handed side of the plate, the place he felt most comfortable for a leverage at-bat.
But then, Smith’s coach called for time. As he did for so many players, over so many years, Chet Brewer needed a moment to impart some wisdom.
In an era of change for baseball, just a couple of decades after Jackie Robinson broke the sport’s color barrier, Smith was one of many young Black players who came out of South Los Angeles in the 1960s and broke into the big leagues.
How to watch and stream the Dodgers this season
Here’s a rundown of the TV and streaming schedule for every remaining Dodgers regular-season game:
Hunter Greene’s record speed thrills, but Julio Urías outduels him in Dodgers’ victory
It’s likely no one has compared Julio Urías to a tortoise. Because he hails from Culiacan, Mexico, his nickname is “Culichi,” not “Tortuga.”
But reach high atop that dusty bookshelf and grab “The Tortoise and the Hare” from Aesop’s Fables. Cast Cincinnati Reds triple-digit wonder Hunter Greene as the speedy hare. Urías and his slow-pokey pitches topping out at 93 mph are you-know-who.
We know who won that race.
This one followed a similar script. The Dodgers got to Greene in the sixth inning and cruised to a 5-2 win Saturday night in front of 50,039 at Dodger Stadium.