Andre Ethier powers Dodgers over Reds, 6-3

Andre Ethier turned on the power to lead the Dodgers over the Reds 6-3 at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium.

Ethier, like most of the Dodgers outfield, was hitting well in May, at .323/.373/.435 in 20 games entering Tuesday, but there wasn't much power to be found. That all changed on Tuesday against the Reds.

Ethier homered against Alfredo Simon in the second inning, a solo shot into the right field pavilion for a 1-0 lead. It was Ethier's first home run since April 19, snapping a span of 91 plate appearances and 27 games without a long ball.

The Dodgers loaded the bases with one out in the fourth inning, and Ethier cleared them with his first triple of the season for a 4-0 lead. It was the first triple at Dodger Stadium for Ethier since Aug. 18, 2009, ending a drought of 1,301 plate appearances and 328 home games without a triple.

As a team the Dodgers only hit five triples at home all season. They have four in 2014, in 24 games.

The Dodgers as a team were 3-for-34 (.088) with the bases loaded with all singles entering Tuesday night.

Todd Frazier broke up a Dodgers perfect game for a second straight day, but this time it came with a one-out single in the second inning. Zack Greinke didn't give up much else the rest of the way.

Greinke allowed one run until Devin Mesoraco got him for a two-run home run in the eighth. But by then the Dodgers had a large-enough cushion to withstand the blow.

In his 7⅔ innings, Greinke allowed three runs on eight hits in his second-longest start of the year, and joined Adam Wainwright as the only eight-game winners in the National League. Greinke struck out 11 and walked none, and with 76 strikeouts and 14 walks has a 5.43 strikeout-to-walk ratio that ranks seventh in the majors.

Greinke's three starts of no walks and at least eight strikeouts are tied for the most in the majors this season, along with Corey Kluber and Jose Fernandez. Greinke had the first start by a Dodger with no walks and at least 11 strikeouts since teammate Clayton Kershaw struck out 12 Brewers and walked none on April 28, 2013.

Carl Crawford, who scored on Ethier's triple, was 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. But he left the game in the eighth inning after spraining his left ankle tracking down a double in the eighth inning.

Up next

The suddenly hot Dodgers go for the sweep and their first four-game winning streak of the season on Wednesday night, with ace Clayton Kershaw on the mound. Adrian Gonzalez, 10-for-21 with five home runs and two doubles against Homer Bailey in his career, might just send a limo to the Reds hotel to make sure the Cincinnati starter makes it to Dodger Stadium on time for the series finale.

Tuesday particulars

Home runs: Andre Ethier (3); Devin Mesoraco (6)

Caught stealing: Yasiel Puig (4)

WP - Zack Greinke (8-1): 7⅔ IP, 8 hits, 3 runs, 11 strikeouts

LP - Alfredo Simon (6-3): 3⅔ IP, 5 hits, 5 runs, 4 walks, 2 strikeouts

Sv - Kenley Jansen (16): 1 IP, 2 strikeouts