Freddie Freeman broke a 4-4 tie with a home run off Ross Detwiler to push the Los Angeles Dodgers to an 8-4 win over the Reds.
Los Angeles tacked on three insurance runs in the eighth on a two-run double off Joel Kuhnel, who walked tow batters to start the inning. Thompson, who was acquired on Tuesday to fill in for the injured Mookie Betts, scored later in the inning on a sacrifice fly by Trea Turner.
The loss was the Reds' sixth straight against the lead and sixth this season against the Dodgers, who swept the Reds in four games in Los Angles in April. Cincinnati is now 23-45 with the worst record in the National League.
"Anyone who has been around this game, knows there aren't many shortcuts," David Bell said. "We have to find ways to get better. We have no choice. I'm grateful for the opportunity to do that."
Donovan Solano connected in his first at bat to drive a lined double off the left field fence to score Kyle Farmer. Solano's strained left hamstring prevented him from participation in Cactus League games in Goodyear, Arizona.
Solano made up for lost time in the Reds' three-run second inning against Tyler Anderson, who started the game 8-0 on the season. Matt Reynolds worked a walk and was forced at second by Albert Almora Jr., who barely beat the relay. He was orginally called out but a replay allowed him to reach and extend the inning. Aramis Garcia plated Solano with an infield hit. Almora scored on a wild pitch.
Reds' starter Luis Castillo allowed a run in the third. With one out Trea Turner extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a single. Freeman was hit by a pitch. Will Smith singled to make the score 3-1. The Dodgers took the lead with a three-run fifth inning.
Gavin Lux opened the inning with a double. He went to third as Trea Turner grounded out. Freeman delivered Lux with a single. Smith singled for the second time. Max Muncy walked to fill the bases. Castillo hit Chris Taylor with a pitch to tie the score. Justin Turner lined out to center and Smith scored.
"Freeman is one of the best hitters in major league baseball," Castillo said. "I threw him a good pitch but he hit it where they weren't. I give all the merit to him. He put it in play with a good swing."
Anderson retired eight batters in a row before Almora tied the game with his fifth home run of the season. The blast was lined into the left field seats just in side the foul line. It was Almora's second home run of the series.
Jonathan India was hit by a pitch. Brandon Drury doubled India to third with one out. Tommy Pham lifted a fly to left. India was cut down at home on the throw from Taylor to Smith to preserve the tie.
"If you know how the play is going to play out that it will be a perfect throw and a good tag, maybe you don't send him," Bell said. "There have been so many plays just like that and J.R. sent the runner and they were safe. I would have sent him there myself. When an outfielder makes the perfect throw to get the runner, that's baseball."
Ross Detwiler took over for the Reds in the sixth.
Castillo finished with five innings, allowing four runs on five hits, three walks and two hit batters. He struck out six. It broke a string of four straight quality starts of six or more innings for Castillo.
"He didn't have his best stuff but he gave us a chance to win against one of the best lineups in baseball if not the best," Bell said. "It says a lot when he can battle a lineup like that without his best stuff. We have expected to see great performances from Luis but you know that is not always going to be the case."
Alex Vesia took over in the sixth for the Dodgers. Anderson will remain undefeated, leaving a tie game after five innings. He allowed four run, three earned on five hits and a walk.
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