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 Phillips homered, Bailey delivered a strong performance, and the
Reds snapped a season-high four-game losing streak with a 3-2
decision over the Los Angeles Dodgers before a crowd of 41,129 at
Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night.
Cincinnati (23-28) prevented Los Angeles (29-25) from recording a
sweep of the three-game series. The Reds also ended the Dodgers'
three-game winning streak.
"Regardless of who was pitching, it feels good to just come through
for the team," said Phillips, who hit his fourth homer, a two-run
shot in the first inning. "We haven't been scoring that many runs.
We haven't been getting clutch hits and stuff like that, but it just
feels good to do something for the team."
A wild pitch by Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw allowed third baseman
Todd Frazier to score for a 3-1 advantage in the sixth, which turned
out to be the difference. However, Phillips' 421-foot blast in the
first gave the Reds a lead they would never relinquish.
"It was huge for us to score early in the game because we gave
Bailey some room to work and do his thing," said Cincinnati first
baseman Brayan Pena, who went 3-for-4 with a double. "We're very
happy today that we came out with the victory and we just have to
continue to work and get better."
Bailey (5-3) limited the Dodgers to two runs on five hits with six
strikeouts and a walk in seven innings, throwing 96 pitches (66
strikes). Relievers Manny Parra and Jonathan Broxton, a former
Dodger, combined to pitch a scoreless eighth before closer Aroldis
Chapman pitched a clean ninth for his fifth save.
"It was a really big win," Bailey said. "We needed that. You don't
ever want to get swept, I don't care where you're at."
Kershaw (3-2) struck out nine, but he allowed three runs on seven
hits and a walk in seven innings. Kershaw, who threw 105 pitches (73
strikes), lost for the second time in his past three outings.
Yasiel Puig hit a solo home run in the sixth, extending his streak
of reaching base to 29 games. After Bailey buzzed Puig with a high,
inside fastball, the Los Angeles right fielder deposited the next
pitch into the seats in right to pull the Dodgers within 3-2 with no
outs. However, the Dodgers failed to score again.
"Both guys threw the ball really well," Los Angeles manager Don
Mattingly said of the starters. "Obviously, Clayton gives up the two
early (runs). Homer seemed to be good all night."
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Phillips put the Reds on the board, drilling a 1-2 fastball from
Kershaw into the left field pavilion for a two-run shot with one out
in the first inning.
"I just hit a good pitch. It was a fastball, and he left it inside
and I just hit it," Phillips said. "It was a great pitch, and I
cheated. Maybe that's what happened."
Bailey limited the Dodgers to one hit until third baseman Justin
Turner led off the fifth with a double to right. After advancing to
third on a groundout by catcher Drew Butera, Turner scored on a
passed ball by Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco to cut the Cincinnati
lead to 2-1 with one out.
The Reds lost each of their previous five games at Dodger Stadium
before Wednesday.
"Hopefully this can get us going in the right direction," Phillips
said. "We've been playing OK baseball. Either our pitching is real
good or our hitting is real good. It's never two things together,
but today our defense was good and we got a clutch hit, and Homer
pitched a great game."
NOTES: Dodgers LF Carl Crawford was placed on the 15-day disabled
list due to a left ankle sprain. Crawford suffered the injury in the
eighth inning of Tuesday night's 6-3 victory. Crawford's absence
resulted in OF Matt Kemp, who missed five consecutive starts,
getting the nod in left field. Kemp went 0-for-4. ... The Dodgers
selected the contract of INF/OF Jamie Romak from Triple-A
Albuquerque to fill Crawford's roster spot. Romak made his major
league debut after 1,069 games in 12 minor league seasons. He
appeared as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning, and he grounded
out to second. ... The Reds visit the Arizona Diamondbacks for a
four-game series beginning Thursday. ... Los Angeles hosts the
Pittsburgh Pirates in a four-game set beginning Thursday.
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