Dodgers Overcome Early Hiccups Against Reds To Advance To NLDS

The Los Angeles Dodgers are through to the NLDS after overcoming early struggles in Game 2 against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday, winning 8-4 and setting up the five-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies.

After thrashing the Reds 10-5 in Game 1, the visitors responded the following day after a two-run RBI by infielder Sal Stewart in the first inning. However, eight unanswered runs from the Dodgers put the team too far ahead for Cincinnati to recover.

“It was a great test, and we didn’t waver,” manager Dave Roberts said after the game. “Even after that first inning, the guys stayed positive, stayed within themselves, kept taking good at-bats.”

Outfielder Mookie Betts cut the lead in half for the Dodgers in the third inning after a single, which allowed catcher Ben Rortvedt to score. In the following inning, the hosts continued racking up hits until utility Enrique Hernandez‘s RBI double leveled the game. Moments later, shortstop Miguel Rojas recorded a single to send Hernandez to home plate, giving the defending World Series champions the lead.

Following the early stumbles, right-handed pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto notched nine strikeouts and did not allow a single run after the first inning. The Japanese pitcher also allowed only four hits in the 6.2 innings he played.

Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez and Betts all recorded RBI’s in the sixth to extend the Dodgers’ lead, before another RBI double by Betts put them into an 8-2 lead.

“We have gone through a lot, had a lot of struggles really all year,” Betts said in his postgame interview. “But I think we all view that as just a test to see how we would respond. Now we’re starting to use those tests that we went through earlier to respond now and be ready now.”

The Dodgers were the only team in the Wild Card round to sweep an opponent. Game 1 of the NLDS against the Phillies is scheduled for Saturday at 6:38 p.m. EST at Citizens Bank Park, where Betts and the Dodgers continue to defend their World Series crown.

“Anything that kind of comes our way, it can’t be worse than what we’ve already went through,” Betts said. “Just keep a positive mindset and keep going.”