Cincinnati at Los Angeles Dodgers

Cincinnati at Los Angeles Dodgers

This is Missed It. Cincinnati at Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, September 8, 89 and partly cloudy at Dodger Stadium, with the Reds. You missed it? Here's the whole game, as it happened.

Pregame

Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles Dodgers. Two teams, one ballpark, nine innings between us and something to feel good about. The Reds have the ball first, and the Dodgers are waiting at home, the way they always are, patient and dangerous. We know what this is. We know what we came for. Let's get into it.

Top 1

Three batters for Cincinnati in the top of the first, and nothing to show for it. Quick work. In and out, no traffic, no noise. Score stays zero to nothing, and now it's Los Angeles's turn to see what they can do.

Bot 1

Four batters for the Dodgers, and the fourth one hurt us. Two outs, bases empty, and Will Smith steps in. He doesn't wait. He doesn't give us a chance to breathe. Smith homers on a fly ball to left field, and just like that, it's one to nothing Los Angeles. The crowd stirs. The Dodgers have the first word, and it's a loud one.

Top 2

Four batters for Cincinnati in the second, and again, nothing. We're not panicking. It's early. But we need to start making them work. One to nothing, Dodgers, and we're running out of easy innings.

Bot 2

This one got away from us. Seven batters for Los Angeles, and the inning kept stretching, kept finding ways to add on. Two outs, two on, and Enrique Hernández walks. That loads the bases. Teoscar Hernández to third, Max Muncy to second. The pressure is on. Then Tommy Edman gets hit by the pitch, and Teoscar Hernández trots home. One run scores. Two to nothing, Dodgers. We didn't give up the big hit, but we gave up the inning. That's the kind of baseball that eats at you.

Top 3

This is why we watch. Five batters for Cincinnati, and the third one changed everything. Two outs, bases empty, and Dane Myers singles on a ground ball to left fielder Alex Call. Just a hit. Just a base runner. But it's something. Then Elly De La Cruz steps in, and you feel it before it happens. He homers on a fly ball to left center field. Dane Myers scores. Elly De La Cruz scores. Two to two. We're tied. The dugout is alive, the bench is up, and for a moment, this game is exactly what we hoped it would be.

Bot 3

Three batters for Los Angeles, and nothing. No runs. The Dodgers came right back at us and we held. Two to two, and we've got ourselves a ballgame.

Top 4

Three batters for Cincinnati, and again, nothing. We're not getting the big hit when we need it, but we're also not falling apart. Two to two, and the game is still right there.

Bot 4

Four batters for Los Angeles, and the first one gave us a scare. No outs, bases empty, and Miguel Rojas doubles on a line drive to left fielder JJ Bleday. That's a runner in scoring position with nobody out. The Dodgers are knocking. But we held. No runs cross. Two to two, and we escape.

Top 5

Five batters for Cincinnati, and we had our chances. One out, bases empty, and Matt McLain singles on a soft ground ball to third baseman Max Muncy. Just a knock, but it's a start. Then, two outs, two on, and Elly De La Cruz grounds into a force out, shortstop Mookie Betts to second baseman Miguel Rojas. Dane Myers is out at second. The inning dies. We had something cooking, and it fizzled. Two to two, and we're still searching.

Bot 5

This is the one that stings. Six batters for Los Angeles, and they found the run we couldn't. One out, a runner on, and Will Smith gets hit by the pitch. Mookie Betts to second. Two on, one out. Then, two outs, two on, and Teoscar Hernández singles on a line drive to center fielder Dane Myers. Mookie Betts scores. Will Smith to third. Two to three, Dodgers. They took the lead back, and they took it with a hit we couldn't answer.

Top 6

Three batters for Cincinnati, and nothing. We're down three to two, and the innings are starting to run out. We need something. We need someone to step up.

The Stretch

Here's where we are. Two to three, Dodgers, and the game is settling into its final shape. The half turned on that Teoscar Hernández single in the fifth. That was the hit we couldn't get. That was the run we couldn't answer. We've had chances. We've had base runners. But the big hit hasn't come since Elly De La Cruz tied it in the third, and now we're running out of time. We need a rally. We need a moment. We need someone to make the Dodgers feel the pressure we've been feeling all night.

Bot 6

Four batters for Los Angeles, and the second one made us hold our breath. One out, bases empty, and Max Muncy hits a ground-rule double on a fly ball to left-center field. A runner in scoring position, and the Dodgers are threatening again. But we held. No runs. Two to three, and we're still in it.

Top 7

Three batters for Cincinnati, and the first one didn't help. No outs, bases empty, and JJ Bleday strikes out swinging. That's not how you start a rally. We go down in order. Two to three, and the clock is ticking.

Bot 7

Three batters for Los Angeles, and nothing. No runs. We're still down by one, and we're still breathing.

Top 8

Four batters for Cincinnati, and we had a flicker. Two outs, bases empty, and Elly De La Cruz doubles on a sharp line drive to center fielder Tommy Edman. There he is again. The tying run is at second base. Then, two outs, a runner on, and Will Smith challenged the pitch result. The call on the field was overturned. Sal Stewart is called out on strikes. The inning ends. The rally dies. Two to three, and we're down to our last chance.

Bot 8

Four batters for Los Angeles, and nothing. No runs. They couldn't put us away, and now it's our turn.

Top 9

This is it. Four batters for Cincinnati, and we needed one of them to be the hero. No outs, bases empty, and Tyler Stephenson walks. We have a base runner. We have a chance. Then, no outs, a runner on, and Eugenio Suárez is called out on strikes. One down. Then, two outs, a runner on, and Jose Trevino grounds out, shortstop Mookie Betts to first baseman Enrique Hernández. Game over. Two to three. We're done.

Wrap-up

Final score, Cincinnati two, Los Angeles three. The Dodgers by one. We had our chances. We had the tying run at second in the eighth, and we couldn't bring him home. We had a walk in the ninth, and we couldn't follow it. This one hurts. It's the kind of loss that stays with you, the kind where one hit, one swing, one moment was the difference. But we fought. We tied it in the third, we held them when we had to, and we never stopped swinging. That's the part we hold onto. That's the part that carries into tomorrow.

Outro

That was Cincinnati at Los Angeles Dodgers, from the Reds side. This has been Missed It. Every game, both sides, at missed it dot net. Produced by James Barrett.

Cincinnati at Los Angeles Dodgers

This is Missed It. Cincinnati at Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, September 8, 89 and partly cloudy at Dodger Stadium, with the Dodgers. You missed it? Here's the whole game, as it happened.

Pregame

It's a beautiful evening at Dodger Stadium, and we've got a good one on our hands. The Cincinnati Reds are in town to take on our Los Angeles Dodgers. Both teams are looking to make a statement, and the energy in the building is electric. We've got a full night of baseball ahead of us, and it all starts right now. First pitch is moments away, and we're ready to go.

Innings 1-3

We're underway here at Dodger Stadium, and it's a pitcher's duel early on. The Reds come up in the top of the first, and our guy on the mound is sharp right out of the gate. Three batters, three outs, no runs. Clean inning. That's exactly how you want to start a ballgame. We come up in the bottom of the first, and the bats are ready to go. Four batters come to the plate, and we scratch one across. The inning starts quietly, two quick outs, and then it happens. Will Smith steps in with two outs and nobody on, and he gets a pitch he can handle. He swings, and that ball is gone. Left field, goodbye. A solo homer, and just like that, we're on the board. One to nothing, Dodgers. The crowd is on its feet, and Will Smith is rounding the bases with a little extra hop in his step. That's how you break a tie that never really was. We go to the top of the second, and the Reds are back at it. Four batters this time, but still no runs. Our guy is dealing, and the defense is making the plays behind him. We come back up in the bottom of the second, and this is where things start to get interesting. Seven batters come to the plate, and we push another run across. The inning builds slowly. Two outs, and then the rally starts. Teoscar Hernández is on third, Max Muncy is on first, and Enrique Hernández is at the plate. He works the count, and then he takes his walk. That loads the bases, and now the pressure is on. Tommy Edman steps in with the bases loaded and two outs. The pitch comes in, and it hits him. That's a free run. Teoscar Hernández trots home from third, and we've got a two to nothing lead. Max Muncy moves to third, Enrique Hernández to second, and the bases are still loaded. We don't get any more, but we don't need them right now. Two to nothing, Dodgers. The top of the third rolls around, and the Reds finally get something going. Five batters come to the plate, and they put two on the board. It starts with two outs and nobody on. Dane Myers hits a ground ball to left field, and Alex Call can't make the play. A single, and now there's a runner on first with two outs. Then Elly De La Cruz steps in, and he doesn't miss. A fly ball to left center, and that ball is gone. Two-run homer, and just like that, the game is tied at two. The air goes out of the building for a second, but we're not done yet. We come up in the bottom of the third, three batters, no runs. The score stays tied at two, and we head to the fourth.

Innings 4-6

The top of the fourth is quick. Three batters for the Reds, no runs, and we're back in the dugout. The bottom of the fourth, and we get a little something going. Miguel Rojas leads off the inning, and he hits a line drive to left field. JJ Bleday can't get to it, and Rojas is standing on second with a double. No outs, a runner in scoring position, and the crowd is starting to buzz. But we can't bring him home. Four batters come up, and we leave him stranded. The score stays tied at two. The top of the fifth, and the Reds are threatening again. Five batters come to the plate, and they get a couple of baserunners. Matt McLain leads off with a soft ground ball to third, and Max Muncy can't make the play. A single, and there's a runner on first with one out. The inning moves along, and with two outs, there are runners on first and second. Elly De La Cruz is up again, and he's already hurt us once tonight. This time, he hits a ground ball to short. Mookie Betts fields it, flips to Miguel Rojas at second, and the force out is made. Inning over. We escape, and the crowd exhales. The bottom of the fifth, and this is where we take control. Six batters come to the plate, and we push one across. It starts with Mookie Betts on first and one out. Will Smith steps in, and he gets hit by the pitch. That puts runners on first and second. Then, with two outs, Teoscar Hernández comes up big. He hits a line drive to center field, and Dane Myers can't get there. Mookie Betts scores from second, and we've got the lead back. Three to two, Dodgers. Will Smith moves to third, and Teoscar is standing on first with a big smile on his face. That's the hit we needed. The top of the sixth is quiet. Three batters, no runs, and we head to the stretch with a one-run lead.

The Sequence

The bottom of the sixth, and we're still nursing that one-run lead. Four batters come up, and we get a little something. Max Muncy hits a ground-rule double to left center with one out. A runner on second, and the crowd is hoping for some insurance. But we can't bring him home. The top of the seventh, and the Reds are up. Three batters, and the first one goes down swinging. JJ Bleday strikes out, and that's a good sign. The bottom of the seventh is quick. Three batters, no runs, and we're back on defense. The top of the eighth, and this is where it gets tense. Four batters for the Reds, and they get a scare. With two outs and nobody on, Elly De La Cruz hits a sharp line drive to center field. Tommy Edman is there, but he can't make the catch. De La Cruz is on second with a double, and the tying run is in scoring position. The next batter, Sal Stewart, works the count, and then Will Smith challenges the pitch. The call on the field is overturned, and Stewart is called out on strikes. Inning over. We escape again, and the crowd is on its feet. The bottom of the eighth, four batters, no runs, and we head to the ninth. The top of the ninth, and it all comes down to this. One-run lead, three outs to go. Tyler Stephenson leads off with a walk, and the tying run is on first with nobody out. This is it. Eugenio Suárez steps in, and he's called out on strikes. One down. The next batter, Jose Trevino, hits a ground ball to short. Mookie Betts fields it, flips to Enrique Hernández at first, and that's the ballgame. Three to two, Dodgers.

Wrap-up

That's the ballgame. We win it, three to two, over the Cincinnati Reds. It wasn't pretty, and it wasn't easy, but we found a way. Will Smith got us on the board early, and Teoscar Hernández came through when we needed him most. The pitching held, the defense made the plays, and we walk away with a one-run win. That's how you do it. That's Dodgers baseball. We'll take it, and we'll see you tomorrow.

Outro

That was Cincinnati at Los Angeles Dodgers, from the Dodgers side. This has been Missed It. Every game, both sides, at missed it dot net. Produced by James Barrett.