Wild-Card Race
Dodgers Defeat Cincinnati 6-3 to Tighten the National League Wild-Card Race
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Key Points
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The Dodgers used right-hander Gavin Stone as a spot starter after injuries to Roki Sasaki and Eric Lauer. Stone had a 5.29 ERA with 108 strikeouts in 95.1 major-league innings, but a 1.50 ERA in four Triple-A starts.
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Cincinnati’s seven-game stretch against Los Angeles consisted of three games at Dodger Stadium followed by four in Cincinnati, making the matchup an extended test of the Reds’ postseason hopes.
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Eugenio Suárez added a solo home run for Cincinnati in the seventh inning, while Will Smith’s sacrifice fly and RBI contributions from Andy Pages and Teoscar Hernández accounted for additional Dodgers scoring in the official line score.
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The Yankees’ projected series opener against Colorado features rookie Cam Schlittler, who entered with a 2.04 ERA over 171.2 innings and more than 200 strikeouts, against Rockies right-hander Gabriel Hughes, whose ERA was 6.19 in 52.1 major-league innings.
The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Cincinnati Reds 6-3, dealing another blow to Cincinnati's fading wild-card hopes. Journal News reported that the Reds extended their losing streak at Dodger Stadium to nine straight games, a critical setback in a seven-game series that could determine Cincinnati's playoff fate.
Teoscar Hernández drove in three runs with a two-run homer, while defensive mistakes by Reds third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes enabled a five-run Dodgers rally in the fifth and sixth innings. Cincinnati's offense sputtered when it mattered most — the team went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position despite homers from Elly De La Cruz and Eugenio Suárez.
Dodgers Rally Past Hayes's Mistakes
Los Angeles turned defensive pressure into runs. Two errors by Hayes, making his first start after two weeks on the injured list, allowed four unearned runs to score. ABC7 noted the Dodgers are 45-28 at home this season and extended their home winning streak with this victory.
The Dodgers' fifth and sixth inning assault produced the difference. Stolen bases, a throwing error, and Hernández's three-run homer turned a 1-0 deficit into a 5-1 lead. Los Angeles added insurance after another Hayes miscue in the eighth, capitalizing on Cincinnati's inability to turn double plays.
Cincinnati's Timely Hitting Collapse Costs Them
The Reds scored three runs but left runners stranded repeatedly. De La Cruz homered and stole a base, while Suárez added a solo shot in the seventh. Yet Cincinnati went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position, wasting scoring opportunities that might have kept the game close.
Cincinnati entered this matchup 6.5 games behind the final National League wild-card spot. The seven-game stretch against Los Angeles — three in Los Angeles followed by four at home — represents perhaps the Reds' last realistic chance to stay in playoff contention.
Dodgers Lean on Spot Starter Stone
Right-hander Gavin Stone made a spot start after injuries sidelined Roki Sasaki and Eric Lauer. Stone entered with a 5.29 ERA in 95.1 major-league innings but showed promise with a 1.50 ERA across four Triple-A starts, suggesting the Dodgers' rotation depth held firm despite recent losses.
Yankees and Marlins Eye Playoff Positioning
Elsewhere in the wild-card race, the Yankees prepare to rebound against the struggling Rockies after dropping two of three to San Diego. A win would help New York gain ground in the American League East. Meanwhile, the Marlins, four games behind the final wild-card spot after losing two of three to the Cubs, face a crucial series against the Mets.
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