Dodgers Advance to NL Division Series with Victory Over Reds
LOS ANGELES – Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered a solid performance, striking out nine over seven innings, as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Cincinnati Reds 8-4 on Wednesday night. This win allowed the Dodgers to move on to the National League Division Series.
In a previous game on Tuesday, the Dodgers had a remarkable outing, hitting five home runs in a 10-5 victory during the NL Wildcard Series opener. However, against the Reds, they opted for a more measured approach, collecting 13 hits to secure the win.
They will now face the Phillies in Philadelphia on Saturday, marking their first matchup since the 2009 postseason. Interestingly, the Phillies eliminated the Dodgers in the NL Championship Series for two consecutive years. I think many fans remember those tense moments.
Although the Reds initially took a 2-0 lead, Yamamoto quickly found his rhythm, retiring the next 13 batters.
The Dodgers then surged ahead, taking a 3-2 lead, following a series of singles from TJ Friedle, Spencer Steer, and former Dodger Gavin Lux that loaded the bases.
Austin Hayes was at shortstop, and when Betts made a key play, catcher Ben Rothveve got a crucial out at home plate. Yamamoto responded by striking out Sal Stewart and Ellie de la Cruz, ending the threat and drawing a standing ovation from the enthusiastic crowd of 50,465.
In the seventh inning, Yamamoto recorded his first two outs but continued to receive applause. He allowed two runs and four hits throughout his outing, reaching a career-high 113 pitches.
On another note, during the eighth inning, the atmosphere shifted as reliever Emmet Sheehan gave up two runs, making it 8-4. The Reds rallied, seeking to put more runs on the board against Alex Vescia. Sheehan and Bessia combined for 41 pitches that inning, a stark contrast to the previous night when three Dodgers relievers needed 59 pitches for just three outs.
Rookie Loki Sasaki took the mound for the ninth, confidently hitting 101 miles per hour with his pitches and getting the necessary outs.
The Dodgers consistently got runners on base in the first five innings. They took the lead with Kike Hernandez’s RBI double and Miguel Rojas’ single, chasing starter Zac Littell from the game.
Shohei Ohtani also contributed with an RBI single in the sixth, breaking a nine-at-bat slump against Reds reliever Nick Martinez. Additionally, Betts recorded an RBI double, while Teoscar Hernández hit a two-run double, extending the Dodgers’ lead to 7-2.
Despite a scoreless first inning, there was a notable moment when Teoscar Hernández mishandled a ball hit by Hayes. After Yamamoto exited the game, Hernandez hugged him in the dugout, perhaps acknowledging the pressure of the situation.
Stewart’s two RBI singles earlier had given the Reds a brief lead of 2-0. This marked their first lead in a postseason game since 2012, which is kind of a big deal for the franchise.
