Cueto Whiffs 12 in Six Shutout Frames To Stymie Dodgers

Johnny Cueto shutdown the Dodgers on Wednesday night, whiffing 12 in six shutout frames, and giving all of Cincinnati free pizza in the process. The Reds beat the Dodgers 5-0. The Dodgers didn’t get any free pizza either. Although I think the entire club could use some free pizza at this point in the season.

Dodgers 0 5 0

Reds        5 8 0

WP-Cueto-6-5

LP-Ryu-7-3

HR-Bruce-5

Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers were unable to win four consecutive games, and have yet to win more than three games in a row so far this season.  After looking good, scoring 12 runs over their last two games, the club regressed back to doing nothing offensively.

Although Dee Gordon did do this…. it seems like Gordon makes another fantastic play every night.

Of course there is no shame in losing to Cueto. He’s one of the best pitchers in Baseball. The dreadlock wearing ace gave up just three hits and only one base runner through the first five innings. By whiffing 12 batters in his six frames, he secured free pizza for all of Cincinnati. It’s safe to say Cueto is a popular guy tonight in Cincy.

Cueto’s mound opponent Hyun-jin Ryu was not nearly as good, and looked like he just couldn’t get comfortable on the mound. What really came back to haunt Ryu were the two walks he allowed in the third frame. Both of those ended up coming around to score.

Ten minutes before the game Hanley Ramirez was scratched because of inflammation in his shoulder. They called it AC joint irritation. Miguel Rojas was penciled in at shortstop.

Kemp upset that his quest for a second consecutive sombrero was halted-Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

Come on Ump, Can’t you just let Kemp get his sombrero?-Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

Not only that but Matt Kemp was ejected in the second inning for arguing a called third strike. This came after Yasiel Puig was called out on a similar pitch in the first inning. He argued with home plate umpire Seth Buckminster, but was not ejected. Kemp was ejected after yelling from the dugout. Kemp has now whiffed in five consecutive at-bats. He’ll have to wait until Thursday to go for another sombrero. Scott Van Slyke replaced him in left field.

Ryu had trouble in the second frame, nearly falling off the mound when he slipped on what looked like some wet dirt. The rain from yesterday hasn’t made the field conditions very good. Ryu had allowed two singles but was able to fight his way out of it. But the Reds got to him in the third. All three runs were scored with two outs. It’s always with two outs.

Billy Hamilton and Todd Frazier walked. Then Joey Votto, fresh off the DL plated them both with a two-run double down the left field line.

The Reds got two more runs. One in the sixth on a Jay Bruce solo shot, and another in the seventh. In that frame, Zack Cozart singled, and stole second. Then he scored on a Hamilton RBI single to center.

The Dodgers had their best chance to get back into the game in the top of the seventh. Down 4-0 at the time, the club loaded the bases. Adrian Gonzalez doubled, Van Slyke walked, and Andre Ethier walked. The Dodgers had Hanley Ramirez come off the bench to pinch-hit since according to them, the shoulder injury only bothers him while throwing, but not while hitting.

It was old friend Jonathan Broxton who got Hanley to ground into an inning ending double play. The Dodgers are horrendous with the bases loaded.

The series and road trip finale will see a pair of eight game winners battle on Thursday as the Dodgers try for a series win. Zack Greinke will duel Alfredo Simon at 9:35 AM Tomorrow.