Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Chase Burns made history against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but even that achievement wasn’t enough against the defending World Series champions.
Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto silenced Cincinnati’s bats for much of the game, allowing a lone run on four hits, and Shohei Ohtani provided the eventual game-winning, two-run double as Los Angeles won, 5-2, at Great American Ball Park on Monday, July 28.
Burns allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits in 5 2/3 innings. His 10 strikeouts made him the second Reds pitcher in at least 125 years to record 10 strikeouts in three consecutive starts, joining Raisel Iglesias in that feat.
“I thought he (Burns) was terrific,” Reds manager Terry Francona said. “He didn’t back down. He yanked a couple pitches, which can happen… He challenged them and there’s some pretty good hitters in that lineup. He did OK. I thought he was good.”
The three runs scored off Burns ended up being enough for the Dodgers, whose stars performed like stars should. Chief among those stars was Yamamoto, who Francona said he did a little bit of everything.
“Velocity on his fastball. Split he can throw to lefties and righties,” Francona said. “Breaking ball. On a guy like that, you’re gonna need a break.”
Ohtani, who is scheduled to be the Dodgers’ starting pitching in Wednesday’s series finale, lined a double that went to the wall in left-center field in the top of the fifth inning. Two runs scored for a 3-1 LA lead, and the third run would be the winning one.
“A lot of really good players over there. A lot of guys that I have a lot of respect for and love a lot,” Lux said. “It’s fun getting in the lineup against them and being on the other side of it. It was fun.”
Lux was highly complimentary of Yamamoto, saying: “He’s one of the best starters in the league for a reason.”
With Scott Barlow pitching in the seventh inning, the Dodgers tacked on insurance to make it 5-1. Mookie Betts and Ohtani were driven in by Teoscar Hernandez and Freddie Freeman.
Former Los Angeles utility man Gavin Lux drove in the first Reds run on a fielder’s choice in the first inning to tie the game at one. That was all Cincinnati could muster offensively until the ninth inning. By then, the Reds’ deficit was four runs.
The Reds managed a comeback attempt, though. Will Benson clapped a one-out RBI single to make it 5-2. Then, Noelvi Marte came to the plate in the ninth representing the would-be tying run before striking out.
T.J. Friedl had the same task and walked to load the bases for Matt McLain, who grounded out to end the night.
The loss saw Cincinnati drop to 56-51.