The Los Angeles Dodgers needed one more win to wrap up their 13th NL West title since 2013, but the Cincinnati Reds had other plans, slugging their way to a 6-2 victory on Wednesday and leaving that celebration on ice.
Dodgers Bullpen Game Goes Sideways Fast
Man, this one started rough for the Dodgers. Blake Snell, who actually no-hit someone at Great American Ball Park back in 2024 with the Giants, barely got a full inning in. After letting Sal Stewart get a two-out single, then smartly picking him off trying to steal second, Snell was immediately pulled with left groin tightness. Just like that, the Dodgers were staring down an impromptu bullpen game, something you absolutely do not want when trying to clinch. Blake Treinen did his job in the second, working around a leadoff baserunner for a scoreless frame, but the cracks started showing. Mookie Betts got his second single in the third, and Will Smith finally got the Dodgers on the board with an RBI double off the right-center field wall. Seth Halvorsen, the next arm out of the pen, couldn’t hold that lead. He coughed up a two-out, two-run home run to Elly De La Cruz, just like that. Reds up 2-1 and the celebration already seemed light-years away.
Elly De La Cruz: Dodgers’ Nightmare Fuel
Seriously, what is it with Elly De La Cruz and the Dodgers? That two-run blast off Halvorsen was his **fifth** home run against them *this season*, and he’s driven in all three of the Reds’ runs against Los Angeles this week. Pure dominance! Bobby Miller, making his first big league appearance since a short three-inning stint on September 6, came on next for 2 1/3 innings, tossing 47 pitches. He allowed another run, a solo shot to Dane Myers, making it 3-1 Reds. The Dodgers kept trying to fight back, loading the bases again in the sixth against Julian Garcia. Tommy Edman managed to cut the deficit to one run with a groundout that scored Kyle Tucker. But the Reds bullpen, and De La Cruz’s defense, slammed the door shut! Tejay Antone came in to face Betts with two on and two out, and Elly made a sick leaping catch at short to get out of the jam. Miller then struggled again, giving up a single to Stewart and plunking Tyler Stephenson before being pulled for Alex Vesia. The Reds capitalized with a bloop RBI single from Juan Brito, pushing the lead back to two runs. In the seventh, Sal Stewart got his *third* single of the game, bringing home Matt McLain for a three-run lead. After a walk loaded the bases, pinch-hitter T.J. Friedl knocked home De La Cruz, ultimately sealing the 6-2 victory.
So, the Dodgers’ party is officially on hold. They needed just one win to lock down their 13th NL West title since 2013, and they absolutely couldn’t get it done against a Reds team that just flat outplayed them. No champagne corks popping in Cincinnati for LA, not tonight. They’ve gotta regroup, shake this one off, and try again to finally clinch that division. This one’s gonna sting for a while.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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