A solo home run by Joey Votto -- the only long ball allowed by Dodger pitching this week -- in the sixth inning broke a tie, and his two-run single in the ninth inning added some insurance, giving the Reds a 5-2 victory over the Dodgers in the finale of a three game series at Dodger Stadium. The Reds also won the season series against the Dodgers, five games to four.
However, the Dodgers got their victory earlier in the day of course as broadcaster Vin Scully said he was coming back for the 2011 season.
Clayton Kershaw had some trouble in the first inning, as he is wont to do, walking two and allowing two runs and two hits. Kershaw has yet to retire the side in order in the first inning in any of his 26 starts this season, and has a 5.54 ERA in the opening frame this season. Kershaw did manage to record all three outs by strikeout in the first inning, and then settled down after that.
Kershaw threw first pitch strikes to 23 of the 30 batters he faced, striking out 11 in his seven innings of work, just the fourth game in his career with that many strikeouts. However, he was wild early and late, and ended up with five walks, just the seventh time he has walked that many in his career.
Bronson Arroyo pitched seven innings, allowing two runs, for the victory, his 14th on the season.
Notes
-
Matt Kemp has homered in back-to-back games for the fourth time this season. In addition to April 20-21 and July 3-4, Kemp homered in four straight games from April 13-16.
-
A.J. Ellis, in his last game before heading off to Albuqerque for a one-week trip, had his first career three-hit game, and drove in the Dodgers second run with a single in the fifth inning.
- Casey Blake has a weird streak going, in that he has struck out exactly one time in 10 straight games
The Dodgers are off tomorrow, and start a series in Milwaukee Tuesday, with Ted Lilly facing Dave Bush.
WP - Bronson Arroyo (14-7): 7 IP, 7 hits, 2 runs, 6 strikeouts
LP - Clayton Kershaw (11-8): 7 IP, 5 hits, 3 runs, 5 walks, 11 strikeouts
Sv - Francisco Cordero (34): 3 up, 3 down