Reds Lay Wood To Dodgers Undefeated Over 70's Archrivals

Joey Votto nearly homered on his birthday off Los Angeles Dodger starter, Alex Wood.

The ball missed leaving the playing field by inches but it was good enough to drive in the first two runs in a four-run frame that launched the Reds to a 10-6 wood shed wallop.  The win was the fifth of the season over the Dodgers.  The Reds swept a four-game series in Los Angeles exactly four months ago May 10-13.

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The Reds and Dodgers were bitter rivals in the Big Red Machine Era.  The teams combined to win seven pennants in the 1970's.

"They really have a good ball club and a roster of 36. You can't get a good match up," Jim Riggleman said. "We had a lot of good at bats.  You have to keep scoring against them."\

The Dodgers loaded the bases against Reds' starter Cody Reed.  Jose Peraza misplayed Justin Turner's ground ball for an error.  Manny Machado forced Turner at second base.  Reed struck out Matt Kemp but walked David Freese.  Kike Hernandez struck out swinging to end the threat.

Billy Hamilton got the Reds rolling against Wood right away drawing a walk.  Peraza was hit by a pitch.  Votto's low line drive to right hit the yellow stripe on the padding of the right field wall, allowing both speedsters to score.  Scooter Gennett's line drive hit lower off the wall in right but allowed Votto to score, although Gennett was held to a single by Kemp.  Phil Ervin singled.  Machado fielded Brandon Dixon's ground ball in the hole at shortstop but his throw eluded Freese to allow Gennett to score.

Reed gave up a run in the third.

Chris Taylor walked to start the inning.  Machado and Kemp followed with one-out singles but Reed got out of the inning without further damage.

Eugenio Suarez hit his 31st home run off Wood in the bottom of the inning, a solo job that gave him 101 RBI on the season.

The Dodgers got to Reed for two runs in the fourth.

Brian Dozier hit a one-out double.  One out later Taylor hit his 16th home run.  That was the last inning for Reed, who left for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the inning in which the Reds got the two runs back off Wood.

Hamilton doubled down the left field line.  Peraza hit a sharp single to left that Taylor played quickly and his throw beat the speedy Hamilton but former Reds' top draft pick catcher, Yasmani Grandal couldn't corral the throw as Hamilton scored.  Peraza took second on the play.  After Suarez was walked intentionally, Gennett singled to score Peraza.

Pat Venditte, who can throw with either hand, relieved Wood.

Michael Lorenzen took over the mound for the Reds.

Grandal hit his 23rd home run leading off the sixth.

Ryan Madson, who was with the Reds in spring training in 2012, climbed the mound for the sixth.  Madson was injured in 2012 and never did pitch in a game for the Reds.  Earlier this season, he pitched for the Washington Nationals and hit Votto with a pitch that cost the Reds' first baseman time on the disabled list.

The Reds exacted revenge in the form of three sixth inning runs.

Peraza singled to lead off the inning.  As Votto and Suarez struck out, Peraza stole his 21st and 22nd base to get to third.  Gennett's fourth single scored Peraza.  Ervin doubled.  Tucker Barnhart's ground single up the middle game the Reds a 10-4 lead.

Gennett is currently leading the National League in hitting.  He has a knot in his thigh that requires therapy and periodic rest.

"I've had a couple rough games in a row," Gennett said.  "It's good to have a short memory sometimes. You can't let a couple bad games dictate attitude or focus. The individual things aren't as important than winning some games.  Maybe after the season, I'll think it's cool and every thing but I don't go to bed at night thinking I've got to get two hits to keep my average at the top."

The Dodgers weren't finished.

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Turner walked and Machado doubled off Lorenzen to open the inning.  Kemp's ground out scored Turner.  Reds' manager Jim Riggleman brought in left-hander Wandy Peralta to face Cody Bellinger, whose single sent Machado to third.  Max Muncy's single scored Machado.  Peralta walked Grandal to load the bases.  Riggleman tagged Jared Hughes to pinch hitter Yasiel Puig.   The count went to 2-2.  Puig fouled off six pitches with two strikes, two of them were hit hard and foul, narrowly missing extra base hits.  On the 11th pitch of the at bat, Puig hit the ball on a line to the glove of Suarez at third base.  Suarez turned it into a double play with a throw to Gennett that nipped Muncy at second.

"We can't forget what Hughes does for us," Riggleman said after Hughes was given credit for the win by the official scorer.  "We've used him to the max. That was a great confrontation between Puig and Hughes.  He's hit Jared pretty good."

It was a replay for Hughes in the confrontation with Puig.

"That was the second time this year I've faced Puig with runners on and he's hit a line drive to third," Hughes said. "Before that he was 4=for-4 against me with two home runs. I think that is the line."

Puig kept adjusting to Hughes sinker but the Reds' reliever was relentless.

"I know he can find a way to make adjustments against my sinker and he finally did. Thank goodness Geno was right there and made an outstanding play.  Even though it was right to him, people don't realize how hard it is to field a ball hit 100 mph and have the awareness to get the double play.  Thank goodness," Hughes said.  "I saw Puig warming up in the bullpen. I knew I was going to face him.  I have an attack plan against every hitter in the league. I was going to get ahead and I got 2-0.  Then my plan was to get back in the count.. I'd have preferred on the ground."

The individual drama of that at bat nearly over shadowed the game itself.

"You tell me it was 11-pitches but I couldn't tell you," Hughes said.  "It just felt like 2-2.  It was one pitch at a time and execute.  When he hit it I thought 'Oh no" but it didn't last very long because it was hit so hard.  Then it was 'oh yeah'."

Josh Fields gave up a bunt single to Mason Williams but Hamilton returned the favor by lining into an unassisted double play to Bellinger at first base.

Gennett ended Hughes scoreless eighth with a diving catch to rob Turner of a single.

Raisell Iglesias pitched a scoreless ninth in a non-save situation.