Dodgers 4 Reds 0: Shutout Victory

The Dodgers got a much needed win today as Julio Urias through six shutout innings.

The past two games have been painful to say the least. The Dodgers starters in both games did not go deeper than three innings. The bats finally woke up and Urias arguably had his best major league start this afternoon.

Dodgers Starter

The Dodger pitches gave up 20 runs in the first two games of this series and were in desperate need of a good start today. Julio Urias gave them just that. In all honesty, you could not have asked Urias to do any better than he did today. He went deeper than three innings, and compared to the last two games, that was a miracle. Urias threw six innings of shut out baseball and worked his way out of the one jam he found himself in. Urias allowed just six hits to the Reds offense and struck out six batters. His control was on point today. Even when he missed his location, it was really close. Urias did not walk a batter in his outing today.

Today tied a season long outing for Urias as he left the game after the sixth and threw 97 pitches. All of the hits he allowed today were singles. The Dodgers needed an outing like this from a starter to get them back on the right track. He may have just turned twenty, but Urias looked like a veteran out there today trying to get his team another W.

Dodgers Offense

The Dodgers offense finally showed up in Cincinnati and they came early too. Chase Utley led off the game with a solo home run to right. With one swing of the bat the Dodgers scored their first run against a Reds starting pitcher this series and got their first lead in the series.

They tacked on two more runs in the top of the third inning. Andrew Toles reached on an infield single and took second base when Urias sacrificed to the pitcher. That brought Utley back to the plate. Utley singled and Toles was able to score from second to make the score 2 to 0, Dodgers. They added another run when Corey Seager singled and Utley scored. Heading into the bottom of the third inning, the Dodgers had a three run lead.

In the top of the sixth inning, the Dodgers would score their fourth and final run of the day. Adrian Gonzalez led off with a single and Yasmani Grandal doubled. Josh Reddick flied out for the first out of the inning. Since joining the Dodgers, Reddick has yet to get on a hot streak. That brought Joc Pederson to the plate. Pederson hit a sacrifice fly that would score Gonzo and the Dodgers tacked on another insurance run.

Dodgers Bullpen

The bullpen entered the game for the first time in the bottom of the seventh inning. Joe Blanton came into the game to relieve Urias. Blanton allowed a lead off double to Eugenio Suarez.

Pedro Baez came in to pitch the eighth inning. He struck out the first batter and allowed an infield single, but a double play got him out of the jam.

Kenley Jansen has not pitched since August 13. He was announced last night to pitch, but never threw a pitch because the rain delay came and when playing resumed, the Dodgers chose to go with Blanton. Jansen came into the game in the bottom of the ninth inning and quickly got the first out, but then Suarez singled. After the single, Jansen got two more quick strike outs and the game was over. He did pretty good considering he has had eight days off.

Other Stuff

This was a much needed win for the Dodgers. They will have another day game tomorrow to finish up this series with the Reds before heading home for a six game homestand that features three games with the Giants and three games with the Cubs.