Dodgers Beat Reds, 3-1, Behind Kazmir To Complete 3-Game Sweep
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Joc Pederson hit a go-ahead, two-run single with two outs in the fourth inning and Scott Kazmir struck out 12, lifting the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 3-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night to complete a three-game sweep.
The Dodgers have won four in a row overall and nine straight against the Reds, who extended their season-high skid to 10 games.
Kazmir (4-3) allowed one run and four hits in six innings. He struck out 12 for the third time in his career and first since Sept. 6, 2012, against the Mets, and walked two. The left-hander has been uneven this season, giving up five runs, two homers and a career-high seven walks last Friday at San Diego.
Kenley Janson retired the side in the ninth for his 14th save in 16 chances after blowing his previous two opportunities.
Dan Straily (2-2) took a perfect game into the fourth inning, when the Dodgers rallied for a 2-1 lead on Pederson's hit. The right-hander gave up three runs and three hits, struck out 11 and walked one. He has been the Reds' steadiest pitcher since being acquired off waivers April 1 and making his first three appearances out of the bullpen.
Yasmani Grandal homered leading off the fifth, sending an 0-2 pitch into the right field pavilion to keep the Dodgers ahead 3-1.
Jay Bruce's RBI triple gave the Reds a 1-0 lead in the fourth. Bruce was out trying to stretch it at home.
The Reds advanced just one runner past first base after the fourth. They scored three runs, had eight hits and committed six errors in the series.
Pederson doubled in the tying run and then scored the go-ahead run on a throwing error in the Dodgers' 8-2 win on Tuesday. With their latest win, they improved to 13-12 at home, ending a stretch in which they played 20 straight games. They'll get Thursday off before visiting the Mets starting Friday.
Kazmir got out of a jam in the sixth. After giving up a leadoff walk to Zack Cozart, he struck out Billy Hamilton and Joey Votto before issuing his second walk to Brandon Phillips. He got Bruce on a groundout to second to end the threat.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Reds: RHP Anthony DeSclafani (strained left oblique) made a rehab start for Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He allowed three runs and three hits in three innings, taking a 7-1 loss. He struck out two and walked none. ... RHP Jon Moscot (inflammation, non-throwing left shoulder) will make another rehab start for Louisville on Thursday at Scranton. ... RHP Michael Lorenzen (sprained right elbow) is scheduled to throw 20 pitches in a simulated game on Friday in Goodyear, Arizona. ... RHP Raisel Iglesias on Tuesday threw from 60 feet without problems. ... RHP Homer Bailey on Tuesday threw from 90 feet without issues.
Dodgers: LF Scott Van Slyke (low back irritation) went 1 for 4 as the designated hitter with a run scored for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday in Fresno. ... In the same game, LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (left shoulder surgery) started and threw 55 pitches over four scoreless innings for Oklahoma City, allowing four hits and striking out three. He is scheduled to make two more rehab starts.
PUIG OFF THE BENCH
Yasiel Puig wasn't in the Dodgers' starting lineup, but manager Dave Roberts said it wasn't because of the Cuban's failure to run out a single the night before.
Roberts said the decision to sit Puig had been made before Tuesday's game. He entered Wednesday as a defensive replacement in the eighth and struck out in the bottom of the inning.
"It's not punitive at all," the first-year manager said. "After the game we talked. He received everything well, so it's just moving forward."
Puig has had an up-and-down week. He committed a base-running gaffe that likely cost the Dodgers a run last Sunday in San Diego before hitting a tiebreaking, two-run single with the bases loaded in the 17th inning to help them win. Then he failed to run hard on a single in the sixth Tuesday against the Reds. Puig said he thought he hit a home run; Roberts was noticeably upset in the dugout, believing Puig should have gone to second base.
"He wants to be a better teammate," Roberts said. "He wants to get better."
UP NEXT
Reds: LHP John Lamb (0-2, 5.40 ERA) starts the series opener in Milwaukee.
Dodgers: LHP Alex Wood (1-3, 4.03) starts the series opener at the Mets. The Dodgers took two of three from the Mets at home from May 10-12, with L.A. outscoring New York 10-6.
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