Gonzalez' 3-Run Blast Lifts Dodgers Over Reds
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Adrian Gonzalez hit a three-run homer to highlight a four-run fifth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-3 Friday night.
John Lamb (1-0) gave up four consecutive two-out hits, capped by Gonzalez's 23rd homer of the season into the lower right-field seats that put the Dodgers ahead 5-1.
Alex Wood (8-7) earned his first victory in three tries with the Dodgers, allowing three runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings. The left-hander struck out three and walked three in his home debut since being acquired from Atlanta.
Kenley Jansen retired the side in the ninth for his 23rd save in 24 chances. He earned his 129th career save, tying Jeff Shaw for second all-time in franchise history.
Joey Votto drove in all three of Cincinnati's runs, including a two-run homer that left the Reds trailing 5-3 in the sixth. After going 1 for 4 in the series opener Thursday, he was 2 for 4 with a run scored.
Votto's RBI double in the first provided the Reds' only lead.
Justin Turner's sacrifice fly tied the game 1-1 in the first. His RBI single with two outs in the fifth put the Dodgers ahead for good, 2-1, in his second game back from a serious skin infection. Gonzalez followed with his homer.
Lamb allowed five runs and eight hits in six innings of his major league debut at the same ballpark where his grandfather John Ramsey worked as the Dodgers' public address announcer from 1958-84. The 25-year-old left-hander from the Orange County city of Laguna Hills struck out seven and walked two.
Lamb wore Johnny Cueto's former No. 47 after the Reds sent Cueto to Kansas City last month for Lamb and two other left-handed prospects. Lamb took fellow rookie Michael Lorenzen's spot in the rotation after he was optioned to Triple-A Louisville on Thursday.
Lamb was the eighth rookie pitcher to start for the Reds this season, tying the modern club record. Rookies have started 16 straight games since July 28, the longest such streak since the first year of the rookie designation in 1958.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Dodgers: RHP Juan Nicasio went on the 15-day DL retroactive to Monday with a left abdominal strain, and RHP Carlos Frias was transferred to the 60-day DL with right lower back tightness. ... RHP Chris Hatcher, who had a left oblique strain, came off the 60-day DL. ... C Yasmani Grandal returned after missing a day with a sore left shoulder.
UP NEXT
Reds: LHP David Holmberg (1-1, 3.06 ERA) makes his fourth start of the season and his first career appearance against LA. In Monday's 2-1 loss at San Diego, he only allowed a two-run homer by Justin Upton.
Dodgers: LHP Brett Anderson (6-7, 3.43) leads the majors with a 66.1 ground-ball percentage, inducing 263 grounders this season.
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