LDN - Sports

Gonzalez launches three homers as Dodgers rout Reds

[August 23, 2016] CINCINNATI -- The last time the Los Angeles Dodgers hit seven home runs in a game, current manager Dave Roberts had a nice view from left field, albeit in a San Diego Padres uniform.

"It feels much better on this side," Roberts said.

Adrian Gonzalez belted three of the Dodgers' seven home runs and recorded a career-high eight RBIs to lift the Dodgers to an 18-9 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday afternoon at Great American Ball Park.

Andrew Toles and Rob Segedin became the first players in Dodgers' history to blast their first career homers in consecutive at-bats.

Corey Seager and Yasmani Grandal also went deep for Los Angeles, which launched seven homers for the first time since an 11-10 win over the Padres on Sept. 18, 2006. The 21 hits were a season high and the 18 runs were the most for the Dodgers since Sept. 28, 2006 at Colorado.

"Our focus today was on winning the road trip," Gonzalez said. "It was a big game for the road trip. Happy flight back home and focus on the series tomorrow."

Monday's win earned the Dodgers a split in the four-game series to complete the trip with a 4-3 record. It also provides them some momentum heading home for a National League West showdown with the rival San Francisco Giants.

"Very excited for our offense," Roberts said. "There were a lot of good things. To see these guys didn't let up. Kept putting together good at-bats."

Jesse Chavez (1-0) was awarded the victory for Los Angeles.

Reds shortstop Jose Peraza had a career-high four hits including two doubles on Monday, improving to 9-for-15 since being recalled from Triple-A on Saturday.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto fell a home run shy of the cycle.

Neither starting pitcher made it past the third inning.

Reds right-hander Homer Bailey had pitched well in his four starts since returning from Tommy John surgery. But, things unraveled for him in the first inning on Monday.

It took just four pitches from Bailey for the Dodgers to build a 3-0 lead.

Following consecutive singles by Chase Utley and Seager, Gonzalez launched the first pitch he saw from Bailey into the right-field stands. The homer extended Gonzalez's hitting streak to 15 games.

Later in the inning, Toles' sacrifice fly gave Los Angeles a 4-0 lead.

Bailey (2-2) threw 32 pitches in the first but escaped further damage when shortstop Jose Peraza made a diving catch of Segedin's line drive.

"The ball just didn't come out," Bailey said. "It's not pain, just a dullness, and you can't finish pitches."

The Dodgers scored twice more in the third on Toles' RBI single and a sacrifice fly by Segedin to make the score 6-1 and end Bailey's day.

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Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez hits a solo home run against the Cincinnati Reds during the fifth inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

Bailey allowed a season-high nine hits and six runs in 2 1/3 innings.

Cincinnati, meanwhile, kept pecking away at Scott Kazmir.

Run-scoring singles by Votto, Scott Schebler, and Tucker Barnhart cut the Reds' deficit to 6-4 in the third. Votto's 300th career double drove in a fifth run in the fourth.

Kazmir was lifted with two outs in the third after allowing four earned runs on six hits and three walks.

Toles and Segedin went back-to-back on consecutive pitches during a six-run fifth to make the score 12-6.

Gonzalez went deep again in the seventh, a three-run shot off Blake Wood, who allowed two home runs in two-thirds of an inning.

"It's a loss," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "It was uglier and took a lot longer than 1-0 or 4-3. We just didn't have an answer for their offense. We had a lot of hits and scored some runs. That's what you take out of it. You move on. It's one ballgame. You start fresh tomorrow."

NOTES: The seven home runs by the Reds tied a club record. ... OF Tyler Holt became the first Reds position player to pitch since Skip Schumaker in 2008. He pitched a 1-2-3 ninth. ... Dodgers SS Corey Seager tied Glenn Wright (1930) for the franchise record for home runs by a shortstop. ... Dodgers RF Josh Reddick was scratched from the starting lineup due to a jammed right middle finger. Andrew Toles started in right field. ... Dodgers LHP Brett Anderson (blister) is expected to make his scheduled start on Thursday. But, RHP Ross Stripling will rejoin the team and be activated if needed. ... LHP Rich Hill (blister) remains on track to be activated from the disabled list and start Wednesday against the Giants. ... Reds SS Zack Cozart is improving but remains day-to-day with swelling in his left Achilles' tendon.

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