Dodgers find their power, beat Reds to snap 2-game skid (2024)

The Dodgers got home runs from Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, and a just-returned Jason Heyward to beat the Reds 7-3 on Friday night at Dodger Stadium, snapping a brief two-game skid.

After the Dodgers had consecutive games without an extra-base hit — their first such streak since March 29-30, 2018, and those two games matching their total powerless games through the first 44 games this season — Mookie Betts immediately put an end to that skid by whacking the fifth pitch of the game into the left field pavilion

That was Betts’ third leadoff home run of the season and 51st of his career, the latter fifth all-time and two behind Craig Biggio for fourth place.

Betts was on first base after a forceout in the third inning when Ohtani came to the plate on a day in which the Japanese superstar was honored at City Hall. About eight hours after the City of Los Angeles proclaimed May 17 “Shohei Ohtani Day,” Ohtani decreed himself the major league home run leader by going to the opposite field.

His 13th home run of the season tied Gunnar Henderson of the Orioles and Kyle Tucker of the Astros for most in the National League. Ohtani’s 30th extra-base hit came in the Dodgers’ 47th game, his quickest to that many extra-base hits in a season, and tied with Duke Snider’s 1955 for the most through 47 games in franchise history.

Getting results, if not decisions

Staked to a 3-0 lead, James Paxton continued plodding along and got through six innings for the third start in a row. But he allowed single runs in three consecutive frames, including two solo home runs, to tie the score.

After walking the world in April, Paxton found the mechanical tweak he was looking for and has only two walks in three May starts, including none in his last two starts. But he’s also not missing many bats.

Paxton struck out two, giving him 25 strikeouts in 44⅓ innings this season. His 13-percent strikeout rate ranks 102nd among the 103 major league pitchers with at least 40 innings this season. Though he didn’t walk anyone on Friday, he ran the count full to his first three batters of the sixth inning. Tyler Stephenson was the last thing standing between a lead after six innings for Paxton, but instead Stephenson’s solo home run knotted the game up at 3-3.

With the left-handed Mike Ford leading off, Paxton began the seventh inning too but allowed a single to end his night. Michael Grove entered in relief and immediately picked off Jacob Hurtubise, who was pinch-running for Ford.

That’s three quality starts in a row for Paxton, and four on the season, but his contrast between results and underlying numbers remains stark. Paxton owns a 2.84 ERA after eight starts, but a 5.12 FIP. That’s the largest difference in the league.

Regaining the advantage

Elly De La Cruz threw wide to first base in a doomed attempt to double up Ohtani on a groundout in the seventh. The throw ended up in the camera well, which gave Ohtani second base. Freddie Freeman was intentionally walked to face Will Smith, who immediately made Cincinnati pay with his team-leading 17th hit with runners in scoring position this season.

Then Fernando Cruz uncorked a wild pitch to allow Freeman to score an insurance run, cashing in the intentional walk.

In the eighth inning, Jason Heyward hit a two-run home run on the day he was activated off the injured list after missing 40 games. His first homer of the season gave some breathing room.

After the Dodgers got the lead, which made a winner of Grove, Blake Treinen and Daniel Hudson took care of the last two innings. The bullpen eight of nine batters faced on Friday.

Friday particulars

Home runs: Mookie Betts (8), Shohei Ohtani (13), Jacon Heyward (1); Stuart Farichild (3), Tyler Stephenson (5)

WP — Michael Grove (2-2): 1 IP, 1 strikeout

LP — Fernando Cruz (1-5): 1 IP, 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout

Up next

Walker Buehler’s third start since returning comes with a slightly earlier start time on Saturday (6:10 p.m., SportsNet LA), with Graham Ashcraft starting on the mound for the Reds.