CINCINNATI-Clayton Kershaw has played five sharp innings for his first win since 2 June, Gavin Lux and Corey Sigger each hitting two homers and the Los Angeles Dodgers sliding beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-5 on Sunday.
Will Smith also won the Dodgers for the eighth time in nine games. They started two games behind San Francisco in the NL West.
The Reds lost their eighth series after starting a two-day game behind St. Louis for a second NL wild-card spot.
Kershaw (10-7) allowed one run and three hits, hitting eight outs without a walk. For the first time since 201, he took to the field in Cincinnati.
“It was great,” said Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts. “I thought he was great all around. I’m a little biased, but I thought he’s a little bored, but he’s awesome. Overall really in control. Look at him with five near 75. It was perfect. “
The three-time NL Sai Young Award winner missed more than two months with inflammation in his left elbow, then returned on Monday and threw a 4 1/3 hard innings against Arizona. He threw 74 pitches.
“I felt a little more crisp with each pitch,” Kershaw said. “I still have a little way to take my stamina. I think we’ve gotten up to 75 pitches, but we have a few more (starts) before the playoffs.”
The only Reds run against him came when Nick Castellanos doubled, took the lead on a wild pitch and scored in a fourth-round groundout by Tyler Stephenson to make it 6-1.
Lux, who missed Friday’s game in right-handed confusion, hit three hits and scored three runs. He hit a two-run triple on Saturday in a 5-1 win.
“We needed a ton of it,” Roberts said. “He’s mechanically in a good place. His attitude towards each pitcher and his work with the hitting coaches is very good and consistent.”
Wade Millie (12-7) continued to struggle, allowing six runs and nine hits in three innings of a season tu-at least. The left-hander, who was a no-hitter at Cleveland in May, has scored 119 hits and 12 runs, 11 in his last two starts in a 1-3-1-3 innings.
“I made a nice pitch near Smith,” Miley said. “I’m not just finishing the pitch. I haven’t figured it out yet. It’s not good. Guys know what I’m going to do. It is no secret. I have to get the ball where I need to get it. ”
Mookie gave Bates a hint to come, leading off the game with the single.
“Wade has been very good all year,” said Reds manager David Bell.
Pitch-hitter TJ Friedel, promoted by the Reds on Saturday, hit his first career hit and home run in the sixth. Friedel singles and Jonathan scores on India’s double in the eighth.
Joey Votto lined up a pinch-hit homer from Dodgers reliever Kenley Janssen in ninth place.
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This News Originally From – The Epoch Times
