CINCINNATI — It certainly wasn’t easy, but the Dodgers found a way.
On a steamy Tuesday night in Cincinnati, the Dodgers were mostly stifled by Reds lefty Nick Lodolo, who carved them up for five innings with a mix of velocity and deception. But thanks to a gritty team effort and a massive two-out double in the ninth from Will Smith, the Dodgers stormed back to win 5–4 and take the series at Great American Ball Park.
The Reds jumped ahead against Tyler Glasnow, who wasn’t quite as sharp as he’d been in previous outings. Glasnow allowed four runs over four innings, including a pair of home runs to Jake Fraley and Noelvi Marte. After a second-inning two-run homer by Tommy Edman gave L.A. a brief lead, the Dodgers were chasing the game for most of the night.
Lodolo was locked in, striking out 10 and allowing just two runs on six hits. Aside from Edman’s blast, the Dodgers couldn’t string much together early, and defensive miscues and baserunning errors—like Mookie Betts getting picked off—didn’t help the cause.
But the tide began to turn in the seventh.
Pinch-hitter Michael Conforto worked a walk and moved up on a Betts single. Though Shohei Ohtani struck out for the fourth time on the night—yes, you read that right—the Dodgers refused to let the inning go to waste. Will Smith stepped up and laced an RBI single to left. Moments later, Freddie Freeman followed with a game-tying single, knotting things up at 4–4.
The Dodgers’ bullpen—Ben Casparius, Anthony Banda, and Alexis Díaz—kept the Reds off the board through the middle innings, giving the offense a chance to complete the comeback. In the top of the ninth, Conforto again showed his value, drawing a leadoff walk and giving way to pinch-runner James Outman. After Betts and Ohtani both made outs, it was once again up to Smith.
And he delivered.
Smith ripped a two-out, go-ahead double to left off Emilio Pagán, scoring Outman and putting the Dodgers ahead for the first time since the second inning. It was Smith’s third RBI of the night and his 50th of the season, adding to what has been a quietly excellent campaign for the All-Star catcher.
Alex Vesia came on in the bottom of the ninth and made quick work of the Reds, locking down the save and securing the win.
A few things stood out in this one:
- Resilience: Despite striking out 14 times and leaving seven runners on base, the Dodgers came through when it counted, going 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position—both of those hits came with two outs.
- Will Smith’s Leadership: Smith finished the game 2-for-5 with three RBIs, including the biggest hit of the night. He continues to show why he’s the quiet heartbeat of this offense.
- Freddie Freeman Coming Around?: Freeman went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, his average climbing back toward .300. His seventh-inning single was as clutch as they come.
- Glasnow’s Struggles: Glasnow struggled with command and gave up two home runs. He’ll look to bounce back in his next outing.
The Dodgers now sit at 63–45, still leading the NL West, and will look to take the finale on Wednesday afternoon. It’ll be Shohei Ohtani on the mound, hoping to redeem himself after a rare 0-for-5 night at the plate that included a career-high four strikeouts.
It was a strange game in many ways—botched pickoffs, defensive errors, and missed chances—but in the end, it was a win. And in a pennant race, that’s what counts.
Next Up: Ohtani vs. the Reds in a day game finale. First pitch at 10:35 AM PDT. Don’t miss it.
Have you subscribed to the Bleed Los Podcast YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows & promotions, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
