Johnny Cueto shines as Cincinnati Reds defeat Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 – MLB Update
The Cincinnati Reds’ starter Johnny Cueto put in a brilliant performance to take his club to a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers for their second-straight triumph at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, June 14.
Cueto entered the field for his eighth start in the bottom of the first inning after the Reds’ batters failed to make any run in the top half and received an RBI single by Andre Ethier on a grounder hit to short-stop. After this run, the 25-year-old pitcher
recuperated with full strength and tossed unplayable fast and swinging pitches, as he held the Dodgers’ strong batting line-up to one-score until the end of his seven innings.
"I told him before the game started that we'll give him off tomorrow. And we have a day off Thursday, so I just told him to give me all he had tonight," Reds’ manager Dusty Baker said. "Sometimes these West Coast trips take a lot out of you, and this one
has us dragging a little bit."
Overall, he allowed five hits and one walk besides making five strike-outs on 104 pitches to earn his fourth game of the season. It was a big day for him as his reliever Lance Ondrusek tossed a perfect eighth inning to confirm his club their 36th success
of the season.
The Reds were struggling against Dodgers’ starter Clayton Kershaw, who tossed seven innings, gave away just one run, walked just two and made four strike-outs. Kershaw did not let the Reds’ batters to stretch their arms. In the fourth inning though, Rolen
found a chance when Kershaw allowed Jay Bruce to occupy third base on a walk. Rolen blistered a line drive to left-field for a RBI single to tie the game at 1-all.
After this run, Kershaw again bounced back with full strength and held the Reds to no-further score. However, when he handed the ball to reliever Blake Hawksworth, Joey Votto managed to earn a lead generating RBI single in the top of the eighth inning.
"Johnny looked great," Votto said. "He pounds the zone and locates his fastball. He is aggressive and he seems fearless. I mean, Matt Kemp has 20 homers and he is hitting .330, and Johnny's going right after him. That says a lot."
In the top of the ninth inning, Mike MacDougal replaced Blake and went for an RBI single by Drew Stubbs. The Reds were leading 3-1 before start of the ninth inning but Dodgers strived hard to score at least two runs to tie the game and force it to extra
inning. James Loney drove in an RBI single off the Dodgers’ closer Francisco Cordero taking the Reds to a comfortable victory in the end.
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