Tyler Stephenson on Reds; loss vs. Dodgers in NL playoffs
Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson talks about Reds’ loss to Dodgers
The Cincinnati Reds need to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers to keep their season alive and force a Game 3 in the best-of-three series.Zack Littell will take mound for the Reds against Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
LOS ANGELES − The Cincinnati Reds used the first 162 games of 2025 to earn a place in MLB’s postseason. Games 163 and 164 might help inform where Cincinnati stands in relation to the game’s top contenders.
In Game 164 on Oct. 1, the Los Angeles Dodgers brushed the Reds aside, 8-4, to sweep the best-of-three National League Wild Card series at Dodger Stadium and end Cincinnati’s season.
The Dodgers advanced to play the Philadelphia Phillies in a best-of-five National League Division Series matchup of heavyweight clubs. The series begins Oct. 4 at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park.
The Reds will look to the offseason after being on the losing side of the only sweep in MLB’s ongoing Wild Card round of the playoffs.
“It’s hard to know what to take away because it’s so fresh and raw,” Reds manager Terry Francona said. “Everybody’s hurting. Only one team can go home at the end on their own terms, and it’s not us this year. The season doesn’t just wind down. It comes to a crashing halt, and that’s kind of hard sometimes to make your peace with.
“I thought our group from Day 1 was a special group. We did not accomplish what we set out to do. That takes away nothing from what me and the coaches feel about those guys.”
The Reds took advantage of a dropped fly ball by the Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernández and took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a two-run single by rookie Sal Stewart. But Cincinnati starter Zack Littell exited after three and 1/3 innings, and his last action was seeing the Dodgers take a 3-2 lead.
L.A. wouldn’t look back as it padded its lead. Hernández drove in two runs in the game, and six for the two-game series. Shohei Ohtani notched another RBI − his fourth of the series after homering twice in Game 1. Mookie Betts also drove in three runs in Game 2.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto settled down after the first inning and was scarcely tested until the sixth inning, when Cincinnati loaded the bases with no outs. Yamamoto worked out of that jam without allowed a run. He’d retake the mound in the seventh inning before exiting after six and 2/3 innings. He struck out nine and allowed four hits and two walks.
The Reds gained traction against L.A.’s bullpen for the second consecutive night and plated two runs in the top of the eighth inning. They threatened for more and twice loaded the bases but only managed to halve their deficit at 8-4.
The Reds went 3-for-10 with runners in scoring position, and left nine on base.
The Enquirer will update this report.
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The Cincinnati Reds will try to keep their postseason going tonight against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 9:08 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.
The Dodgers took Game 1 on Sept. 30 with a 10-5 win to start the best-of-three series. Reds’ ace Hunter Greene lasted only three innings in the loss.
Zack Littell (10-8, 3.82 ERA) will be on the mound for the Reds and will be opposed by Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12-8, 2.49 ERA). Littell was a trade deadline acquisition for the Reds and has gone 2-0 with a 4.39 ERA since coming to Cincinnati from the Tampa Bay Rays.
Watch Reds vs. Dodgers on ESPN+
If the Reds can win and force a Game 3, Andrew Abbott will be on the mound and will possibly be opposed by Shohei Ohtani, but the Dodgers have not announced a probable pitcher for a potential Game 3 yet.
Follow along for live updates and highlights:
After the Mookie Betts double, Cincinnati intentionally walked Freddie Freeman in the hope of inducing a double play, but that backfired when Teoscar Hernández doubled to make it 7-2.
The Dodgers are nine outs away from advancing to the National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Shohei Ohtani came through for L.A., singling to right field to make it 4-2.
The RBI was Ohtani’s fourth in the two games the clubs have played.
Also, Mookie Betts followed behind Ohtani with a double down the third baseline to make it 5-2.
The Reds loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the sixth inning. It They got nothing out of it and still trail, 3-2. Austin Hays grounded into a fielder’s choice where the Dodgers got the force-out at home plate. The runners couldn’t break because it hung up in the air too long. Sal Stewart and Elly De La Cruz both struck out after that to end the frame. Cincinnati might not get a better opportunity than that until next season.
Perhaps surprisingly, Zack Littell went out for the fourth inning. He ended up recording one more out before being replaced by Nick Lodolo.
Littell’s final line: three and 1/3 innings, six hits, three runs, no walks, two strikeouts (52 pitches, 41 strikes).
The Dodgers plated one run in the third and two in the fourth to take the lead. Ben Rortvedt scored on a Mookie Betts single to get the hosts on the scoreboard. Then, Enrique Hernandez doubled in the gap to score Max Muncy for the tying run. Miguel Rojas’ single put the Dodgers in front.
Teoscar Hernández dropped an Austin Hays fly ball with two outs, allowing Spencer Steer (hit by pitch) to reach third base while Hays took second. Then, rookie Sal Stewart slapped a single to left field and plated both Reds base runners for a huge, 2-0 lead.
We’re off and running at Dodger Stadium, and right on time at 6:08 p.m. local time.
Dodgers left fielder Kike Hernandez tracked down a deep drive by T.J. Friedl and hauled it in for the first out of the game.
It seems like there might be a little less electricity in the ball park this evening, but that can change quickly.
Can the Reds be eliminated tonight?
The Dodgers can win the best-of-three series tonight and move on to the National League Divisional Series.
Dodgers beat Reds in Game 1 of NL wild card round
The Dodgers won Game 1 on Sept. 30 with a 10-5 victory to start the best-of-three series. The Dodgers only need one more win to clinch the series and move on the National League Divisional Series.
Reds vs. Dodgers start time
The second game of the Reds vs. Dodgers NL wild card round is scheduled for a 9:08 p.m. ET first pitch.
Reds vs. Dodgers TV channel
The Reds vs. Dodgers game 2 from Dodger Stadium will be broadcast on ESPN and the radio broadcast will be on 700 WLW-AM.
Reds vs. Dodgers starting pitchers
Zack Littell (10-8, 3.82 ERA) will be on the mound for the Reds and will be opposed by Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12-8, 2.49 ERA).