Field Level Media
May 13, 2018
Luis Castillo pitched effectively into the seventh inning, and Eugenio Suarez and Joey Votto supported him with two-run home runs Sunday afternoon, helping the Cincinnati Reds complete a stunning four-game sweep of the Dodgers with a 5-3 victory in Los Angeles.
The Reds, who began the series with the worst record in the National League, limited the Dodgers to nine runs in four games, extending their winning streak to six straight in the process.
Castillo (3-4) allowed solo home runs to Yasiel Puig in the third inning and Yasmani Grandal in the seventh, but otherwise limited the Dodgers to just two other hits and one unearned run in six-plus innings. He struck out eight and did not walk a batter.
Down 5-1, the Dodgers threatened to catch up in the seventh after Grandal opened the inning with his sixth homer of the season.
After Cody Bellinger singled, Castillo was pulled in favor of Austin Brice, who allowed an infield hit to Matt Kemp and a run-scoring infield out by Chris Taylor as the Dodgers crept within 5-3.
Amir Garrett then came on to strike out pinch hitter Enrique Hernandez and get Puig to line out, with both representing the potential tying run.
Garrett also pitched a shutout eighth inning with three straight strikeouts. Reds closer Raisel Iglesias notched his seventh save with a 1-2-3 ninth, sending the struggling Dodgers to their seventh defeat in their past eight games.
Suarez's homer, his sixth of the season, opened the scoring in the top of the third inning after an error by first baseman Bellinger had put a runner aboard against Dodgers starter Rich Hill (1-2).
Puig had narrowed the Los Angeles deficit to 2-1 with his first homer of the season in the bottom of the third.
Alex Blandino squeezed home Billy Hamilton in the fourth inning before Votto homered off Dodgers reliever Pat Venditte following a Blandino single in the sixth for a 5-1 lead.
Hill went the first 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) and six hits. He walked four and struck out four.
Suarez, Blandino and Hamilton had two hits apiece for the Reds, who have allowed three or fewer runs in all six games of their winning streak.
Hamilton also stole three bases.
Grandal complemented his home run with a single, giving him two of the Dodgers' five hits.
Los Angeles hitters struck out 12 times in the game.
The Reds out-hit the Dodgers 9-5.
--Field Level Media