*Photo from Field Level Media*
A couple hits can make the difference in the game. Spencer Steer homered, Jonathan India hit a grand slam, and the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers with a 9-6 victory Friday night in Cincinnati.
The Reds lineup was able to outslug the Dodgers to pick up the series opening win, hanging 9 runs on Dodger pitching as they won for just the 4th time in 10 games. After losing 3 of 4 to the Dodgers last week in California, it was the perfect rebound for the Reds to open their final series of the season.
Cincinnati starting pitcher Graham Ashcraft said of the offense's performance that "Those guys have had a lot of games recently where they’re hitting the ball real hard and just having bad luck. To see the guys do that, it pumps us up a lot. We’ve been wanting that, for them."
Steer gave the Reds the lead right away, hitting a 3 run home run to center field in the first inning to make it 3-0 Reds. In the second, Chris Taylor got the Dodgers on the board and cut the deficit to 3-2 with a two run double. Mookie Betts hit an RBI double and Andy Pages scored on a groundout to make it 4-3 Dodgers.
Will Smith made it a 5-3 Dodgers lead in the top of the 5th on a solo home run to right field. In the bottom of the 5th, Stuart Fairchild made it 5-4 with a solo home run to left. Steer scored as Nick Martini was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, tying the game 5-5. India made it 9-5 with a grand slam to left field. Teoscar Hernandez made it 9-6 in the 9th with a solo home run.
India said of his 5th inning grand slam that "I sit fastball every at-bat. I just didn’t want to miss that fastball. It was a good-located pitch too. I finally turned on a ball this year. I think it was my first time turning on a ball like that. I haven’t felt that all year. That’s why I had so much emotion running around the bases. I’ve been trying to find that. I finally found it tonight with that swing."
Ashcraft was the starting pitcher for the Reds, allowing 5 runs in 5 1/3 innings pitched while striking out 3 hitters. Sam Moll finished the 6th before Buck Farmer and Lucas Sims each threw scoreless innings. Brent Suter allowed one run while closing out the win.
James Paxton started for the Dodgers and was responsible for 5 runs in 4 2/3 innings pitched. Yohan Ramirez allowed 3 runs and didn't get an out while Alex Vesia gave up one in 1 1/3 innings. Michael Grove and Elieser Hernandez each threw a scoreless inning after Vesia departed.
Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said of the loss that "The offense was good. You know, Fairchild out there in center field. He took some extra bases away from Mookie, from Will, robbed a homer. We had some really good at-bats, could have scored more runs. But offensively, I thought that we played a heck of a ballgame."
The second game of the series takes place Saturday night. The Reds will try to secure the series win as Hunter Greene takes the mound, while Walker Buehler starts for the Dodgers as they try to split this series as well as clinch the overall season series advantage.
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