Cody Snavely
Game 53, 5/24/2024: Dodgers 6, Reds 9
CINCINNATI, OH — The Los Angeles Dodgers, fresh off thirteen games in thirteen days, finishing a game over .500 in that stretch (7-6), traveled to Ohio in a rematch with the Cincinnati Reds.
The Dodgers pinned their hopes on James Paxton, who had the lowest ERA on the staff with a 2.89. He was set to face off against Graham Ashcraft, who was looking to bounce back from his last loss against the Dodgers, where he gave up three runs in five innings.
Things would not start off well for Paxton or the Dodgers as the veteran lefty would surrender three runs in the bottom of the first inning off a three-run home run by Spencer Steer, his fifth of the season.
However, the Dodgers would strike back the next half inning, putting up a four-spot at the top of the second inning. Chris Taylor would get the scoring started for the Dodgers, hitting a double that scored Gavin Lux and Teoscar Hernández. It was Taylor’s first extra-base hit of the season.
The hitting continued with a ground-rule double by Mookie Betts, which tied the game at three runs. However, the Reds caught a break; if the ball had not left the field, Andy Pages would have easily scored.
However, it did not matter, as Shohei Ohtani gave the Dodgers a 4-3 lead with an RBI groundout, capping off a terrific bounce-back inning. The Dodgers would not get another run until the fifth inning as each starter settled into the game.
Will Smith extended the Dodgers’ lead with a solo shot in that inning, his sixth of the year, showing signs of potentially getting out of his slump.
After a rough first inning for James Paxton, he would pitch around trouble, giving the Dodgers hopefully much-needed innings for a bullpen that is missing multiple high-leverage arms.
However, the walks would bite Paxton yet again, forcing Dave Roberts to walk out to the mound, waiving his right hand, signaling for Yohan Ramirez, a move that would more than likely cement the entire game.
Yohan Ramirez threw a total of fourteen pitches, only one for a strike, forcing the Dodgers to turn to Alex Vesia, who has been exceptional in the bullpen so far.
However, it was just one pitch to Reds “veteran” second baseman Jonathan India, who would hit a grand slam, ending his day with three hits after entering the game in the midst of an 0-for-16 stretch.
The Dodgers offense was quiet for the rest of the night except a Teoscar Hernández solo home run in the ninth inning. However, the Dodgers would still drop this one with a score of six to nine.
The Dodgers have now lost three games in a row and are 5-5 in their last ten games. Tonight was yet another questionable performance from the offense, as, despite two solo home runs, they went 3-for-14 with RISP.
Tomorrow, they will turn to right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler, who is coming off the best start of his season so far, going six shutout innings against this same Reds offense. The first pitch is at 4:15 PM PT.
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