Dodgers 3 Reds 1: Kershmir

The Dodgers sweep the Reds and Scott Kazmir is dominant on the mound.

Scott Kazmir was lights out tonight and out on the mound channeling his inner Clayton Kershaw. He pitched six complete innings, gave up four hits, one earned run and struck out 12 batters. In my opinion, this was Kazmir’s best performance by far this season. He did walk two batters, but other than that it looked like a miniature Kershaw was out on the mound this evening.

Dan Straily pitched great for the Reds this evening too. He pitched seven complete innings, allowed three earned runs, walked one and struck out 11 batters. Tonight’s game was filled with strike outs. 18 of the first 30 outs were made via strike outs this evening. Brandon Phillip’s son Micah, stole the show this evening. The Reds’ second baseman literally wins the award for cutest son ever. Vin Scully loved talking about the little guy every chance he got tonight. Micah was behind home plate blowing kisses and cheering on his dad.

In the top of the fourth inning the Reds would score their one and only run. Phillips singled to right and Jay Bruce tripled to deep center. Honestly, Joc Pederson should have caught the ball, but lost track of it and ended up running into the center field wall full speed. Chase Utley made a great heads up play to throw home as Bruce tried to score, but he was called out at the plate thanks to a great tag by Yasmani Grandal.

The Dodgers would bounce back and take the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Utley led off with a single, Justin Turner was hit by a pitch, Adrian Gonzalez walked, and with two outs, Pederson came up and smacked a single to right. Utley and Turner would score. The final run of the game would be scored in the bottom of the fifth inning when Grandal came up and hit a solo home run.

The bullpen did great tonight. Louis Coleman and Pedro Baez put up zeros and passed the ball to Kenley Jansen who sealed the deal and got the save. It was great to see the Dodgers play good baseball this series after struggling in the past few. Sadly, the Giants won again and are still on their winning streak, but with a W, the Dodgers stay in second 4.5 behind the Giants.

The Dodgers have an off day tomorrow as they head to New York in order to face the Mets this weekend.