Reds Snap Losing Streak Right Over Dodger Heads – 4/26/21

Dodgers came into a new series against the struggling Reds, looking to reset after a rough series against the Padres. With the Reds on a seven-game losing streak, this seemed like the perfect time for the Dodgers to find their groove and get things going again. Urías started on the mound for the Dodgers. After his incredible outing against the Mariners, and there was reason to believe this would be a good one for the home team. Unfortunately, we did not see the same Urías this time out.

Before the game, the Dodgers activated Gavin Lux and Dennis Santana from the IL.  They also recalled Mitch White from the alternate training site. They optioned Garrett Cleavinger and DJ Peters back to the training site. Price moved to the IL with a hamstring strain.

Urías On the Bump

Urías started the game with a leadoff walk.  He then settled in and retired the next nine batters he faced, striking out four. All looked well for the Dodgers starter tonight, but the Reds ended up getting to him in the fourth inning. He gave up a single and a double and retired Suarez on a ground out that brought home the game’s first run. Reds took a 2-0 lead on a sac fly from Senzel before Urías struck out India on a curve to end the inning.

The Dodgers earned a run back in the bottom half of the fourth.  Taylor led off the inning with his first hit of the night. Muncy was hit by the pitch in the arm, putting the first two guys on for the Dodgers once again. They did this in the first, even getting Mookie to third with nobody out, and couldn’t find a way to bring him home. This time they’d come through with at least one run when Lux singled to right field with two down. Welcome back, Lux! Ríos, who has struggled immensely, went down on a check swing on a ball out of the zone to end the inning. 

With a 2-1 lead in the 5th, the Reds got their run right back when Urías hit Farmer to lead off the inning. With two outs in the inning, Castellanos singled to left field, and Farmer came around to score, making it a 3-1 Reds lead. Urías got Suarez to ground out to end the inning, which was also the end of his night. Urías’ final line: 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO.

Mitch White Season Debut

Mitch White took over on the mound for the Dodgers in the sixth, making his season debut. While he did give up some hard contact, he was able to keep the Reds from adding onto their lead. In his first inning of work, he gave up a base hit but left the runner stranded. He came out again in the seventh and threw out, walk, out, walk.  That’s when Roberts decided his night was over. Graterol came into face Suarez and got the ground out to end the winning. With the Dodgers in a current stretch of 14-straight games, having someone who can go multiple innings after losing Price would be huge.

In the seventh Barnes, got into this game to pinch-hit for the pitcher’s spot with one down. He watched four straight balls and took his base with one down. Mookie would come up to represent the tying run and line out too short. That would bring Seager to the plate with two down and a runner on first. Seager already had a hit in this game and was trying to make it his third straight multi-hit game. The Reds brought lefty Amir Garrett out of the bullpen to face Seager, and he threw a slider low and in, and Seager crushed it to center. The game was all tied up!

If the Dodgers wanted to come away with the win tonight, they were going to have to walk it off. The ninth inning started off with Ríos getting hit by the pitch. Dodgers had the winning run on first with nobody out to start the bottom half. Turner came into pinch-hit for the nine spot. He made some solid contact but lined it to Castellanos in right for the first out. Betts hit into a force-out, so he would now represent the winning run and bring Seager to the plate. Unfortunately, this time Seager could not get the job done as he grounded out to first, ending the inning. 

Bonus Baseball, Again

With nothing going in the ninth, we’d head to the tenth, and Jansen came into pitch. He immediately gave up a two-run shot to Winker, giving the Reds a 5-3 lead. 

The Dodgers got their chance in the bottom half to tie it up or walk it off. Taylor led off the inning and grounded out too short. One down. Muncy would go down on a questionable check-swing called by the home plate umpire. Two down. Smith would represent the tying run and worked a full count before drawing the walk, bringing Raley to the plate as the winning run. He went down looking, and ended the game.

Reds Snap Losing Streak, Extend it for the Dodgers

Right now, the Dodgers look defeated at the plate. They’ve lost six of their last eight and are tied with the Giants for first place. They were awful with runners in scoring position once again, going 1-for-10 and leaving 10 guys on base. We all know this team is capable of so much more, and I think it’s what makes these losses so frustrating. They will turn it around at some point, but until then, it’s been a rough go for Dodger fans.

Let’s hope tomorrow is a better outcome when the Dodgers send Buehler to the mound for the 7:10 PM PDT start. 

To read about last night’s Bonus Baseball against the Padres, click here.

PHOTO CREDIT:  by Michael Owens/Getty Images