Final: Dodgers complete sweep with 10-5 win over Reds
CINCINNATI — Maybe it should have been expected, given the competition, but the Dodgers nonetheless earned a confidence boost by sweeping the Cincinnati Reds this week, completing their dominance with a 10-5 win on Thursday.
It was the Dodgers first time winning three-straight games since May, and improves their record to 43-25 as they head to Atlanta to face the Braves this weekend.
Final: Dodgers 10, Reds 5
Dodgers extend lead again, hit fifth home run of the game
The Dodgers have pulled away from the Reds again, scoring one run in the eighth on a Freddie Freeman single (his 10th RBI of the series) and another in the ninth on a solo home run from Trayce Thompson.
The Dodgers now have five home runs on the day, their first five-homer game all year.
Top 9th: Dodgers lead 10-5
Reds back within three after poor inning from Phil Bickford
Phil Bickford did not have it in the seventh inning.
After relieving Clayton Kershaw, Bickford promptly gave up four runs, including three on one swing by Tommy Pham, whose three-run homer drew the Reds back within three.
Bickford only got two outs before being replaced by Yency Almonte. His ERA this season is now 5.48.
End 7th: Dodgers lead 8-5
Clayton Kershaw completes another strong start as Dodgers continue to pull away
Clayton Kershaw completed a solid six-inning start in which he gave up just one run on seven hits and one walk. He threw 80 pitches and struck out seven batters, lowering his ERA to 2.00 in the process — the lowest it has been through eight starts in a season since 2016.
The six innings were the most Kershaw has pitched since returning from a back injury earlier this month.
And before he exited, the Dodgers lineup gave him even more support after Max Muncy hit a solo home run in the fifth, Trea Turner hit an RBI double in the sixth and Will Smith hit his 10th home run of the year in the seventh.
Mid 7th: Dodgers lead 8-1
Cody Bellinger goes deep as Dodgers continue roughing up Hunter Greene
The first time he faced the Dodgers this year, Hunter Greene held his own, giving up just three runs (two earned) in 5 1/3 innings at Dodger Stadium.
Today has been a different story.
The young right-hander has now given up five runs, after Cody Bellinger whacked a two-run blast in the fourth inning on a 3-and-0 fastball.
It was Bellinger’s ninth home run of the season.
Mid 4th: Dodgers lead 5-0
Freddie Freeman homers again to extend Dodgers lead
Freddie Freeman’s power surge is continued in the third inning, as the first baseman hammered a two-run homer to right-center field.
It was the longest of Freeman’s eight home runs this season, traveling a projected 427 feet. It was also Freeman’s third home run in his past four games, and fourth in the past 10.
Clayton Kershaw, meanwhile, has worked three scoreless innings on just 33 pitches so far.
End 3rd: Dodgers lead 3-0
Dodgers take early lead despite a couple baserunning blunders
In each of the first three half-innings of today’s game, someone made an out on the bases.
In the top of the first, Trea Turner got doubled off after attempting a steal and not realizing the ball had been hit for a fly out to left.
In the bottom of the first, Jonathan India roped a leadoff single off Clayton Kershaw but then got picked off at first.
And in the top of the second, Justin Turner was overzealous, tagged out while trying to advance from second to third.
The good news for the Dodgers: They did get one run on the latter play, a sacrifice fly from Cody Bellinger that plated Max Muncy from third.
End 2nd: Dodgers lead 1-0
Clayton Kershaw takes mound; Gavin Lux moves up batting order
CINCINNATI — Clayton Kershaw will take the mound Thursday for his third start since returning from a back injury.
Kershaw’s previous two outings have been sharp: A four-inning, two-run start against the San Francisco Giants and a five-inning, one-run outing against the Cleveland Guardians.
“Clayton looks really good,” manager Dave Roberts said. “I think that the build up has been methodical, rightfully so. You’re looking at how he recovers after starts, which has been good. And then in the game itself, he’s holding his stuff.”
The Dodgers lineup on Thursday featured a swap at the bottom, with streaking Gavin Lux batting seventh for only the third time this season and Cody Bellinger being dropped to eighth for the first time since April.
“I don’t like to constantly flip guys around and move them around,” Roberts said. “But with what I’ve seen from Gavin, he’s taking really good at-bats. And I know Cody is working really hard and trying to grind through this.”
Here’s the Dodgers full lineup for Thursday, as they try to complete a three-game sweep of the Reds, who will send right-hander Hunter Greene to the mound.”
How to watch and stream the Dodgers this season
Here’s a look at the Dodgers broadcast and streaming schedule for the remainder of the 2022 regular season:
ICYMI: Freddie Freeman’s bat stays hot as Dodgers beat Reds 8-4
CINCINNATI — The next stop on this trip is the one Freddie Freeman has been waiting for the most.
On Friday, he will return to Atlanta for the first time since he left the Braves to sign with the Dodgers this offseason.
It is sure to be an emotional homecoming, one complete with a World Series ring presentation and likely plenty of tears from the star first baseman.
And it’s been a moment that, try as he might, has been on his mind for weeks.
“You’re probably gonna see me cry quite a bit on that Friday,” Freeman said last week, looking ahead to the reunion with his former team. “I can’t wait to go back, but I’m almost looking forward to it being over, so I can just try and concentrate on baseball.”