Reds' 2015 Trade Back Fires On Dodgers

Brandon Dixon and Scott Schebler launched long home runs off Hyun-Jin Ryu to stake the Reds to their sixth win of the season over the National League West contenders, the Los Angeles Dodgers, 3-1.

Dixon, Schebler and Jose Peraza, who doubled, all came from the Dodgers in the trade that sent Todd Frazier to the Chicago White Sox.

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Dixon's fifth home run on a Ryu, 1-0 pitch reached the upper deck in left in the second inning.  Schebler's 16th was a hard liner off the Budweiser sign above the Reds' bullpen in right.

"Dixon, Schebler, Peraza, they all played well," Jim Riggleman said.  "Floro threw the ball well for them but it was a different trade."

Dixon started the last four games at four different positions.  He started the last three games of the San Diego series playing second base, third base and right field.  Against the Dodgers, he gave Joey Votto a rest by playing first base.

"Dixon is a baseball player, not just a second baseman," Riggleman said. "He got us off to a good start.  Ryu is tough."

Dixon was happy to contribute against his former organization.  He didn't make it to the Major Leagues with them, playing in his first big league game with the Reds on May 23rd.

"It was just a good pitch to hit.  That's all I've got on that one," said Dixon of the ball that landed 436' from home plate.  "I was just trying to put a good swing on it . I don't know where that power came from. It is fun to play the team you left. We've played good baseball against them this series. Scheb and Peraza do things like that a lot. It was fun to do it too."

Schebler hit his 389' from the dish but was equally happy that it came against the team that started his career.

"The win is the most important thing but you have a chip on your shoulder when you play your former team," Schebler said.  "I don't know what Dixon told you. I don't know why we match up so well against them."

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Luis Castillo allowed two hits in the first inning, stranding both runners, then retired 15 straight batters.  He struck out eight of them. Joc Pederson's 20th home run in the sixth broke the streak.  Castillo rallied by striking out Dodgers' home run leader Max Muncy, who has 32 and getting Manny Machado to ground out.

"It is a long season. I've been getting better.  You have to finish the season strong,"  Castillo said.  He finished with 6 1/3 innings, allowing the home run among four hits and a walk.  He struck out nine."


Gabriel Guerrero, the nephew of Vladimir and former Red Wilton Guerrero hit a single in the fourth inning for his first Major League hit.

Schebler, Peraza and Scooter Gennett, the National League's leading hitter, singled in succession to push the third run across the plate.  Yasiel Puig robbed Phil Ervin of an extra base hit to end the fifth inning.

Castillo ran into trouble in the seventh.  Yasmani Grandal hit a one out double and took third on a wild pitch.  Alex Verdugo walked.  Reds' manager Jim Riggleman replaced Castillo with Sal Romano.  Chris Taylor flied to shallow right and a strong throw by Schebler kept Grandal at third.  Verdugo took second on the throw.  Puig walked to load the bases.  Riggleman brought in David Hernandez to face pinch hitter Justin Turner.  Turner hit into a force play to end the threat.

"That was my best throw ever," Schebler said.  "I was looking on Statcast to see what the velocity was."

Hernandez contributed a scoreless 1 1/3 inning.

"We need guys to give us five or six good innings," Riggleman said. "Castillo gave us more than that.  I felt Romano could get us a ground ball.  Puig battled him and drew the walk.  I didn't want to use Hernandez for more than an inning but I wanted his experience there in that situation."

Raisel Iglesias entered to claim his 26th save in 30 chances.  Iglesias walked Grandal with one out but Dixon showed his athleticism fielding a ground ball made a quick tag of the runner and flipped to Iglesias covering for the out.