CINCINNATI -- Maybe it was a new sense of urgency or maybe it was just a bad opponent, but the Los Angeles Dodgers snapped out of their worst losing streak in more than two years with a 5-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds Tuesday night at Great American Ballpark.
How it happened: Before the game Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said he agreed with Clayton Kershaw’s comment that the team needs to play with more urgency, which Kershaw initially called “panic.” Mattingly then managed with extreme urgency, bordering on panic. He pulled Alex Wood after a leadoff single in the sixth inning though Wood had a five-run lead, had allowed just four hits to that point and had a reasonable pitch count of 88. Wood didn’t seem to take it well, arguing to stay in the game initially and then throwing his glove in the dugout. It didn’t really work, either. Chris Hatcher came in and gave up an RBI double to Todd Frazier. The Dodgers used a total of six pitchers.
Some of the Dodgers seem to be playing their best as the pressure mounts. Jimmy Rollins, whose numbers have spiked in the second half, was on base three times and led off the game with a double that led to a run. Then, he hit the sixth-inning two-run home run that gave Wood and the Dodgers breathing room. Justin Turner also hit a two-run shot, a ball that scraped the top of the left-field wall.
What it means: The Dodgers would like to have a little more breathing room before they play the second-place San Francisco Giants next Monday. They built their lead to two games pending the outcome of the Giants’ game later Tuesday night.
Notable: Entering Tuesday, Rollins had a slugging percentage of .421 since the All-Star break. Rollins slugged .338 before the break. … The win was the Dodgers’ first on the road since an Aug. 6 game in Philadelphia. It snapped an eight-game road losing streak. … Joey Votto has had 21 plate appearances against the Dodgers this season and has reached base in 12 of them. He walked three times Tuesday. … Juan Nicasio was activated from the 15-day disabled list before the game and promptly gave the Dodgers another reason to worry about their bullpen. Nicasio got two quick outs, but then walked Votto, gave up a hit to Brandon Phillips and walked Todd Frazier. ... Luis Avilan has been an exception to the bullpen angst. Five of his seven outings for the Dodgers have been scoreless. He struck out Jay Bruce on a nice breaking ball to get out of a bases-loaded jam.
Up next: The series continues Wednesday evening with the Dodgers' Brett Anderson (7-8, 3.52 ERA) opposing David Holmberg (1-3, 6.57 ERA) at 4:10 p.m. PT.
