Nightmare Return for Bud Norris as Reds Rout Dodgers 9-2

Sometimes you have to walk through your nightmares to reach your dreams.

Bud Norris had a nightmare return to the rotation as the Cincinnati Reds dominated the Los Angeles Dodgers, 9-2, in the opening game of the series at Great American Ball Park on Friday night.

Norris was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list before the game and his return to the mound was far from triumphant as the first five Reds he faced reached base, punctuated by a three-run home run from Joey Votto.

"Second warm up pitch of the game a big piece of clay came out of the dirt," Norris said of the mound which he believed attributed to his paltry start. "It was frustrating, I wasn't able to get much of a rhythm."

Votto has been on fire since the All-Star Break, batting an MLB-leading .455 with a .560 OBP and an OPS of 1.252. The veteran first baseman also recorded his 700^th career RBI with a bases loaded walk by Norris in the bottom of the fourth.

"When you face one of the elite hitters and a hot hitter in Joey Votto and he hits a homer and we're down 3-0 it hurts," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the game. "He [Norris] settled in okay, but that fourth inning got away from him."

Norris (6-10) was unable to get out of the fourth inning, surrendering six runs on seven hits with four walks and just three strikeouts and 3 and 2/3 innings of work.

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"The fourth inning really escalated on me and it stumbled out of control," Norris said of the nail in the coffin. "I put myself in a tough spot and never was able to get out of it. It's frustrating because I know what I'm capable of doing and it didn't go my way."

Cincinnati on the other hand only needed their pitchers both on the mound and at the plate. Starting pitcher Tim Adleman (2-1) threw five scoreless innings and earned his first MLB hit with a two-run double in the fourth.

Not to be outdone, Reds reliever, Michael Lorenzen, proved pitchers can rake too when he launched his first career home run into the seats in right-center for a three-run shot that gave Cincinnati a 9-1 lead.

Lorenzen dedicated the blast to his father who died unexpectantly earlier in the week.

Pedro Baez served up the homer to Lorenzen, and has allowed a home run in four of his last five relief appearances after a 19-game stretch without surrendering a long ball.

Corey Seager knocked in the Dodgers only run with an RBI single in the top of the seventh and then scored the final run in the ninth. The rookie shortstop finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

Players of the Game:

Joey Votto: 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBI.
Reds Pitchers: Tim Adleman and Michael Lorenzen combined for 5 RBI.
Corey Seager: 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Three Takeaways:

1. In the Name of the Father: Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Michael Lorenzen went on the bereavement list earlier this week when his father unexpectedly passed away. Lorenzen changed his entrance music to his father's favorite song, "Who Are You?" by the Who, and promptly hit a three-run home run, the first of his career in the bottom of the seventh.

What an incredible moment for @Lorenzen55. 🙏https://t.co/3us9hnJ1YV — Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 20, 2016

2. Unlucky No. 13: Joc Pederson had a 13-pitch, hit-by-pitch, at-bat in the top of the fourth inning. It was the longest plate appearance by a Dodger since Howie Kendrick saw 14 pitches on June 15^th.

A 13-pitch at-bat for Joc Pederson. "Edelman saying, 'What do I have to do against this guy?' " - @Joe_Davis
He hits him in the elbow. — Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) August 20, 2016

3. Fields of Dreams: Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Josh Fields turned 31 years old today. Fields was acquired by the team at the trade deadline from the Houston Astros and has allowed three runs in 7 and 1/3 innings with the Dodgers this month.