Dodgers’ Game Recap: Pollock’s Blast Powers Los Angeles

The Dodgers played the final game of their series against the Cincinnati Reds, in hopes of picking up their fourth straight victory and the sweep.

The club sent a recently struggling Walker Buehler to the hill against a reinvented Sonny Gray.

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The lineup was a bit reshuffled with Corey Seager and Justin Turner both receiving the day off. In response, Chris Taylor checked in at shortstop and Max Muncy at third base.

Today’s Dodger lineup vs. Reds:
Pederson LF
Bellinger 1B
Pollock CF
Muncy 3B
Hernández 2B
Verdugo RF
Taylor SS
Barnes C
Buehler P#Dodgers | @Biofreeze pic.twitter.com/ZyhE4Rms3J

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 17, 2019

Pollock Comes Up Big

The first scoring came in the sixth inning with an AJ Pollock tank shot to cash in three runs.

Well, you wanted to face A.J. so… pic.twitter.com/62NiBjYKgZ

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 17, 2019

The Reds chipped away at the lead slowly with Eugenio Suarez’s RBI groundout in the seventh inning. The Reds also threatened in the ninth inning against Kenley Jansen with a Matt Kemp sacrifice fly but could only cut the lead down to one.

The Reds were entirely over-matched by Walker Buehler for most of the game with Ferris tossing 6 1/3 frames, allowing an unearned run on three hits and a walk. He struck out eight.

Poetry in motion. pic.twitter.com/jpRCiiAGxk

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 17, 2019

Sonny Gray matched Buehler’s zeroes up until the sixth with the Pollock three-run jack. Gray punched out nine over six innings of three-run ball. He surrendered two hits and walked two.

AJ Pollock talks post-game with @ColeWrightNFL about his big at-bat that cashed in three #Dodgers runs in today's win. pic.twitter.com/2XSY53WYz8

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) April 17, 2019

Standings Update

With the win, the club moves to 12-8, moving them into sole possession of first place in the NL West, half a game ahead of the San Diego Padres.

Results

W: Walker Buehler (2-0)

L: Sonny Gray (0-3)

SV: Kenley Jansen (5)

Next Up

The Dodgers head to Milwaukee who they recently dropped a series to, sending Julio Urias (0-1, 5.27 ERA) to the hill to oppose Zach Davies (2-2, 6.52 ERA). Julio Urias will be making his final start as a member of the rotation at 5:10 PT.

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