Dee Gordon Hurt As Dodgers Beat Reds

The Dodgers got hits from the first four batters of the game, and the pitching staff made the first inning lead hold up in a 4-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium, giving the Dodgers their first series win since June 17, and their first two-game winning streak since June 9-10. But they may have lost Dee Gordon.

Gordon stole second and third in the eighth inning, giving him a major league high 30 steals on the season. He slid headfirst into (the tag at) third base on his steal and appeared to injury his right hand or possibly his right thumb on the play. Gordon walked off the field immediately with assistant trainer Greg Harrel, which meant the rarest of all occurrences on a baseball field.

A pinch runner for Dee Gordon.

Gordon was removed in favor of Mark Ellis, who played in his first major league game since May 18.

With the win, the Dodgers moved back into first place in the National League West, a half-game ahead of San Francisco.

Aaron Harang pitched seven strong innings, allowing just a run on three hits to the Reds, striking out five to earn his sixth win of the season. Harang, who walked a career-high eight batters in Oakland on June 19 and who had walked more than he struck out in his three previous starts, walked only one Red on Wednesday night.

Gordon opened the first inning with a double to the right field wall, then scored on a single by Luis Cruz, giving Cruz an RBI in each of his three games since joining the Dodgers. Singles by Bobby Abreu and James Loney plated another run, and an errant throw by shortstop Zack Cozart on a groundout by Adam Kennedy gave the Dodgers a 3-0 lead.

The Dodgers have outscored their opponents 57-34 in the first inning this season.

Devin Mesoraco crushed a ball into the left field seats for a solo home run to put the Reds on the board in the fifth inning, and the alumnus of Punxsutawney High School in Pennsylvania had himself quite a series. The Dodgers were unable to escape his shadow in the two games Mesoraco started this series, as he was 2-for-5 with a home run, a double, and four RBI at Chavez Ravine.

After the first four batters he faced, Mike Leake allowed just two hits and he retired the final 13 batters he faced. But the damage had already been done. The Dodgers added an insurance run in the eighth inning off reliever Bill Bray.

Ronald Belisario struck out all three batters he faced in the eighth inning, lowering his ERA on the season to a miniscule 0.99.

Kenley Jansen struck out two in the ninth inning for his 14th save.

Tonight's Particulars

Home Runs: Devin Mesoraco (5)

WP - Aaron Harang (6-5): 7 IP, 3 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts

LP - Mike Leake (3-6): 7 IP, 6 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 5 strikeouts

Sv - Kenley Jansen (14): 1 IP, 2 strikeouts