Dodgers Swing Momentum with Three Straight Wins
The Dodgers are heating up at the right time. After wrapping up the weekend with a win, Los Angeles rolled into a three-game win streak, opening their homestand with a dominant 7-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium.
By Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer
The Dodgers are heating up at the right time. After wrapping up the weekend with a win, Los Angeles rolled into a three-game win streak, opening their homestand with a dominant 7-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium.
Pages Powers the Offense
Rookie outfielder Andy Pages carried the bat, blasting two home runs and driving in four runs. Former Dodger-turned-shortstop Mookie Betts added to the fireworks in the seventh inning with a solo homer and a dazzling defensive play deep in the hole, showcasing his versatility.
On the mound, right-hander Emmet Sheehan (5-2) delivered the best performance of his young career. He tossed seven shutout innings, striking out 10 batters while benefiting from strong defensive play behind him.
The win, coupled with a San Diego Padres loss to Seattle, pushed the Dodgers back into sole possession of first place in the NL West.
“Competition should bring out the best in you,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “When the margins are smaller, everything matters more. This pennant race is very good for us.”
Defense Steps Up
Michael Conforto, often scrutinized this season, had a strong night—making a leaping catch at the wall to rob a run in the second inning and adding two doubles at the plate. Teoscar Hernández, battling through leg injuries, also flashed his glove with multiple running catches in the outfield.
“It was a complete game the men in blue played,” Roberts said.
Kershaw Adds to His Legacy
In Game 2, future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw continued the momentum, pitching five innings of one-run ball as the Dodgers beat the Reds 6-3 for their third straight win.
Kershaw (9-2) allowed just two hits and struck out six, notching his 221st career victory. That ties him with former Dodger Max Scherzer and Joe Niekro for 76th on the all-time wins list.
The Dodgers’ bats broke the game open in the sixth inning, batting around and plating four runs. Will Smith led off with a homer, Miguel Rojas added a pinch-hit two-run double, and Shohei Ohtani chipped in with an RBI single.
Tanner Scott closed it out in the ninth for his 20th save of the season.
Looking Ahead
With the Padres also winning to keep pace, the Dodgers’ lead in the NL West remains just one game. Next, they welcome the Arizona Diamondbacks for a three-game set this week at Dodger Stadium.
