Dodgers 8 Reds 2: Now THAT’S a Bad Bullpen

The Dodgers capitalize against a new starting pitcher and a bad Reds bullpen in order to get a win.

Mike Bolsinger got the ball for the Dodgers this evening. He pitched 5.2 innings, allowing three hits, two earned runs, one walk and six strikeouts. Bolsinger did great this evening and came out of the game so that Dave Roberts could bring in Luis Avilan to face one batter before pulling him. For just being called up from AAA Oklahoma again, Bolsinger seemed to have the Cincinnati Reds figured out and off balance.

The Dodgers would strike first and score in the bottom of the first inning after Chase Utley led off with a single. Corey Seager followed it up with a single to center and another from Justin Turner in order to get Utley home. Daniel Wright was making his major league debut with the Reds after making the jump recently from their AA bullpen to major league starting rotation. He struggled off the bat and it took him 20 pitches before getting his first out as he struck out Adrian Gonzalez.

The Reds would score their only two runs in the top of the fourth inning when Jay Bruce got a two out double. His double came in an awkward way. The ball was a grounder hit to first, but it ended up hitting the base and ended up behind Gonzalez. Right after Bruce doubled, Adam Duvall smacked a ball 400 feet and over the center field wall. For the time being the Reds had a one run lead. Fortunately, Dodgers pitching shut them out after that inning and the Reds did not get a hit following the fourth inning.

The Dodgers would get two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning when Trayce Thompson led off the inning with a single and then scored all the way from first on a Joc Pederson double. Thompson is just one of those people I love watching run the bases. Pederson would then score after stealing third base and take home on a throwing error made by Tucker Barnhart, the Reds catcher.

In the bottom of the sixth inning the Reds pulled Wright who quickly got the first out and then allowed Thompson to reach third base on a double and error. Then entered the Reds bullpen. The Reds by far have the worst bullpen in the majors. Their bullpen’s ERA is 6.53, and Dodger fans think we have it bad. The Reds bullpen is bound to give up runs and they continued that this evening. Pederson walked, Yasiel Puig singled, Thompson scored and then Howie Kendrick would be called safe thanks to another error and in turn it allowed Puig to score. Two insurance runs were added to the score board thanks to error and the Reds bullpen struggled, but it did not end there.

Next: Dodgers First Quarter Grades

The offense continued into the top of the eighth inning when Chase Utley, Howie Kendrick and Corey Seager walked. With the bases loaded Justin Turner would single in two runs and Gonzalez would follow behind him with another single. Turner had a season high three hits and three RBI’s tonight.

During tonight’s game Seager was hit with a pitch off of his right knee. The noise that could be heard was just chilling. It sounded like the ball made contact with his bat not his knee. He fell to the ground immediately but seemed to be okay.

Puig was pulled from the game early, according to Dave Roberts it was because Puig could have been at second when he singled off of the outfield wall, but instead he stopped at first. I am happy to see Roberts disciplining him in such a way and I think with time things like this will only continue to shape Puig into an even better baseball player.

The Dodgers will be looking for a sweep as they face the Reds again tomorrow at 7:10 PM.