Sports
Dodgers Sweep Reds; Three Series Head to Game 3
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers completed a sweep of the Cincinnati Reds in the Wild Card Series with an 8-4 victory on Wednesday evening. This win marks the Dodgers’ 13th consecutive appearance in the National League Division Series, set to begin Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies.
In Game 2, the Reds struck first with two unearned runs in the top of the first inning, thanks to an error by Teoscar Hernández. However, the Dodgers turned the tide during the fourth inning, scoring two runs to take a 3-2 lead. Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani both contributed with key hits during this rally.
The Dodgers then broke the game open with a four-run sixth inning. Betts, who finished the game 4-for-5 with three doubles and three RBIs, was instrumental in this scoring surge. “You just want to keep the momentum going,” Betts said. “Every run counts in games like this.”
Despite the commanding lead, the Dodgers’ bullpen faced challenges in the eighth inning. The Reds had the bases loaded with no outs, but the Dodgers managed to escape without further damage. This anxiety for Dodgers fans highlighted the concerns surrounding their bullpen.
“It got a little dicey there, but we held on,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “Winning in the playoffs is never easy.”
On the other side, the Reds’ playoff struggles continued. Having not won a postseason series since 1995, their current streak of eight consecutive playoff losses raises concerns as they head into the offseason.
As for the other Wild Card matchups, the New York Yankees edged out the Boston Red Sox 4-3 to force a decisive Game 3, while the San Diego Padres and Cleveland Guardians also managed to extend their series to a winner-take-all game. The intensity of the playoffs continues to rise as teams battle for a chance in the Division Series.
The Dodgers will now prepare to face the Phillies, who they have a storied competition with, rekindling memories from past postseason encounters. The upcoming series is set to be an exciting challenge for both marquee franchises.
