First Three Game Loss Since 2019 for Dodgers - 4/27/21

First Three Game Loss Since 2019 for Dodgers – 4/27/21

After the Reds snapped their losing streak last night against the Dodgers, it was the Dodgers’ turn to try and get back into the win column. Buehler took the mound for the start against Jeff Hoffman. They wanted to avoid the team’s first three game loss since August 2019 and the first back to back series loss since April of 2019.

Red Strike First

After homering off Jansen last night, Winker came into this game and did the same thing against Buehler on the game’s first pitch. Buehler quickly settled in and struck out the next three batters to end the first. Over the next two innings, he made quick work of the Reds, not giving up a hit and striking out three more.

The Dodgers started the fourth inning with walks from Turner and Muncy, both walking for the second time of the night. Smith came up next, looking for his first RBI since April 5th – also when he hit his last home run. After fouling off three straight pitches, Smith demolished a fastball 425 feet. 106.7 MPH off the bat. It was a no-doubter the second it left his bat. That’s all the Dodgers would get in the fourth, but they had their lead. At least for the time being, they did.

The Reds answered right back in the fifth when Buehler hit the leadoff guy and gave up a double to Farmer with nobody out. Reds brought up pinch-hitter, Stephenson who grounded out, but it was enough to drive home a run. Dodgers lead was cut to one. Winker, who has been killing the Dodgers these first two games, did his damage again. He singled on the first pitch of his at-bat, and this one was all tied up at 3-3. Buehler got Castellanos to roll into an inning-ending double play.

Dodgers Take The Lead Again

The scoring went back and forth in this one, with the Dodgers gaining some momentum in the sixth. Smith was hit by the pitch on his elbow to lead off the inning. Taylor moved him to third on his fourth double of the season. Lux had a shot to drive in another run but went down swinging for the first out. Beaty, who has only been up for four games since being recalled, came through with a huge base hit to give the Dodgers the lead once more. Betts and Seager both drew walks to load the bases before Turner grounded out to end the inning. The loaded bases curse continues.

Just as things felt good for the Dodgers, the Reds came right back in the seventh. A leadoff double from Barnhard, followed by a single from Farmer made this a 5-4 Dodgers lead. Buehler struck out Suarez for the first out of the inning, and with the lefty Winker coming to the plate, Roberts wanted to bring in Alexander for the matchup. Turner made a great diving play to keep the ball in the infield and get the lead runner for the second out. Castellanos singles moving Winker into scoring position, and that’s when Votto did his thing. He took a sinker from Alexander and pulled it down the right-field line with two strikes and two outs, and Cincinnatti was back on top. Alexander got Moustakas to ground out, but it was one out too late as the Reds were up 6-5 now.

The Dodgers had one more chance in the ninth with Seager, Turner, and Muncy due up. They needed one run to tie it, but we all wanted the walk-off after these last two games. Seager, who started heating up over the last three games, popped out to third, ending his night 0-4. Turner went down looking at a pitch a couple of inches off the plate – a common theme with the umps this year. Muncy came up as the last Dodger hope, but he popped out to third and ending the game.