Max Muncy hit a pair home runs for Los Angeles’ only two hits and right-hander Joe Kelly stranded the bases loaded in his return to the Dodgers in a 3-2 victory over the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Saturday.
Rookie right-hander Emmet Sheehan gave up two hits over five scoreless innings as the National League West-leading Dodgers won for just the second time in five games of their current homestand. Right-hander Evan Phillips recorded the final four outs for his 13th save.
Reds right-hander Luke Weaver (2-3) gave up the two Muncy home runs and was effective over six innings, with two walks and two strikeouts, after he entered with a 9.41 ERA over his previous nine starts.
Cincinnati rookie Elly De La Cruz doubled and scored a run as the Reds still maintained a winning record over the Dodgers this season at 3-2 despite the loss. De La Cruz flied out to left field to end the game with the tying run on base.
The Dodgers jumped in front 2-0 in the first inning on Muncy’s two-out home run to right-center field, bringing home Freddie Freeman, who reached base on a fielder’s choice after David Peralta reached on an error by Spencer Steer at third base.
The Reds got to left-hander Caleb Ferguson in the sixth inning, scoring their first run of the frame on a sacrifice fly by Kevin Newman to score De La Cruz, who doubled and went to third on a TJ Friedl single. Steer followed with an RBI single to tie the game, and Joey Votto walked.
Kelly, whom the Dodgers reacquired in a trade with the Chicago White Sox on Friday, came on for Ferguson but walked Christian Encarnacion-Strand to load the bases. Kelly (2-5) got out of the jam by striking out Will Benson on a 99-mph fastball.
Muncy gave the Dodgers a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth with his second home run of the game and 27th of the season on a drive to right field.
Dodgers leadoff hitter Mookie Betts was a late scratch with a sore right ankle.
–Field Level Media
