Justin Turner and Jimmy Rollins both hit two-run homers and the Los Angeles Dodgers snapped a five-game losing streak with a 5-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday at Great American Ball Park.
After a week of offensive struggles amidst an eight-game road losing streak, the Dodgers bats bounced back in the “hitters friendly” park located alongside the Ohio River.
“We needed this very badly,” Rollins said. “Losing 5 games in a row and losing two games late, we haven’t been playing good baseball, at least at the plate. It was important to come out here and get some hits and get the win.”
The Dodgers jumped out to the lead thanks to back-to-back doubles by Rollins and Yasiel Puig to start the game.
Rollins was the player of the game for Los Angeles going 2-for-4 with a double, home run, and two RBIs.
“We needed a big hit,” Rollins said of his homer.” You can’t let a team hang around too long; they find ways to win, at least lately against us.”
Alex Wood (9-8) picked up his second win in a Dodgers uniform, both against Cincinnati, after the left-hander held the Reds to three runs in a 5-3 victory in Los Angeles on August 14th. Wood showed significant improvement on Tuesday, throwing five scoreless innings before running into trouble in the sixth.
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“You always want to stay in the game,” Wood said when asked if he wanted to come out of the game.”But it was a good win tonight. I’m excited we’re back in the win column.”
The left-hander allowed just one run on four hits with four strikeouts in 5.2 innings.
“Middle to the end of August, its go time,” Wood continued. “Hopefully we’ll continue to do what we did tonight and put some more W’s in the win column.”
John Lamb (0-2) lost to the Dodgers for the second time in 11 days after a 5-3 loss in Los Angeles. Lamb faired a little better on Tuesday allowing three runs on five hits in five innings, but still took the loss, his second of the season.
“Without a doubt I’d like to take the club deeper into the game,” Lamb said. “It’s definitely a learning experience. I can learn what pitches to throw, but then I have to execute them. I’m learning to continue to make pitches and apply the pressure. Walks have come back to bite me in the butt. It’s preached at the lower levels trying to get here. I’m learning to stay in the moment.”
Todd Frazier knocked in the Reds only run of the game and finished 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI. Frazier leads the Majors in two-baggers with 38.
Dodgers’ reliever Luis Avilan came out with the clutch performance of the night. After a week of bullpen struggles, Avilan came out of the pen with the bases loaded and two-outs in the eighth, with Jay Bruce representing the tying run at the plate.
“I was just trying to throw strikes,” Avilan said of his mindset in that pressure packed situation. “ The last thing you want is to walk him there. I wanted to get the out as quick as I can and fortunately, I did that.”
Avilan struck Bruce out with a nasty breaking ball, that secured the lead and the victory for Los Angeles.
Game Notes:
Dodgers reliever Juan Nicasio was activated from the 15-day disabled list before the game and Yimi Garcia was sent back to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
