05/18/24 10:26:00
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05/18 22:24 CDT Walker Buehler stymies the Reds with 6 dominant innings in the
streaking Dodgers' 4-0 victory
Walker Buehler stymies the Reds with 6 dominant innings in the streaking
Dodgers' 4-0 victory
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --- Walker Buehler pitched six sharp innings with seven
strikeouts in his third start since returning from Tommy John surgery, leading
the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 4-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday
night.
Freddie Freeman had two hits and drove in a run for the Dodgers, who have won
18 of 24 games to surge 7 1/2 games ahead of San Diego atop the NL West.
Teoscar Hernndez and Andy Pages also had run-scoring hits for Los Angeles.
Buehler (1-1) yielded three hits and no walks in a dominant performance to earn
his first major league victory since May 24, 2022. After looking somewhat shaky
and wild in his first two starts back from his second Tommy John procedure, the
two-time All-Star controlled his breaking pitches against Cincinnati and
rediscovered the form he has usually shown when healthy during his first six
seasons with the Dodgers.
Buehler and his three relievers combined on a three-hitter, with the bullpen
pitching three perfect innings.
Graham Ashcraft (3-3) yielded three hits, three walks and three runs over five
innings for the Reds, who have lost two straight and 14 of 17. Cincinnati was
shut out for the fourth time this season.
The Reds lost despite handling Shohei Ohtani, who went 0 for 4 for only the
fifth time since joining the Dodgers. Mookie Betts also got his first rest day
of the season for the Dodgers, who moved Ohtani to the leadoff spot.
Ashcraft held the Dodgers hitless for the first three innings, but he walked
Freeman and Hernndez in the fourth before Pages delivered an RBI single.
Hernndez then scored on Gavin Lux's groundout.
Jake Fraley was gifted a one-out triple in the fifth when Dodgers left fielder
Miguel Vargas inexplicably cut in front of Pages, causing both outfielders to
miss a catchable ball, but Buehler calmly got two more outs.
Miguel Rojas doubled and scored on Freeman's single in the fifth. Freeman then
doubled and scored on Hernndez's single in the eighth.
Reds outfielder Jacob Hurtubise got his first major league hit with a single in
the third inning. The 26-year-old U.S. Military Academy graduate was called up
Monday, becoming the first major leaguer to use a new exemption policy allowing
West Point grads to defer their military service while playing professional
sports.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw threw off the mound before the game in his latest step
in his return from offseason shoulder surgery. He isn't expected to begin his
17th season with Los Angeles until July or August. ... RHP Bobby Miller (right
shoulder) also threw a bullpen session. He hasn't pitched in a game since April
13.
UP NEXT
Los Angeles native Hunter Greene (2-2, 3.27 ERA) will make the second Dodger
Stadium start of his career for Cincinnati. The Dodgers haven't announced their
starter.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
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