Reds 5, Dodgers 2
LOS ANGELES -- The Cincinnati Reds clipped Zack Greinke early and doused the sizzling Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night, taking a 5-2 win at Dodger Stadium.
Los Angeles entered the game winners of six straight and 23 of 28, the league's hottest team since early June.
Greinke came into the game 5-0 in his last six starts, all Dodgers wins, and he had a 4-0 career record against Cincinnati.
The Reds, though, are no slouches, having won seven of 10 while battling with the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates for the National League Central lead, and they took the upper hand early Thursday.
Cincinnati built a 4-1 lead on the strength of a Jay Bruce two-run home run, and Mat Latos got out of trouble against an aggressive Dodgers lineup.
Latos (10-3) scattered eight hits in 7 2/3 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) while striking out four.
Manny Parra got the last out in the eighth inning, and Aroldis Chapman pitched around a hit, a walk and a wild pitch in the ninth for his 24th save.
Greinke (8-3) allowed six hits and four runs in seven innings in his worst start since July 3, decimated by poor control. Only 64 of his 104 pitches went for strikes, despite just one walk.
Shin-Soo Choo, Joey Votto and Todd Frazier each had two hits for Cincinnati, which ranks second behind Los Angeles in hits and runs since the All-Star break.
Cincinnati poked at Greinke for much of the early going, claiming a 4-1 lead.
After the Reds carried a 2-1 lead into the sixth inning, Jay Bruce provided some extra cushion with his 21st home run of the season, a two-run shot that scored Brandon Phillips.
Los Angeles trimmed a 2-0 in the fourth inning on an Adrian Gonzalez RBI groundout that scored Yasiel Puig.
Cincinnati went ahead early with a first-inning home run by former Dodger Xavier Paul and a second-inning Cesar Izturis RBI single.
NOTES: The Dodgers designated LHP Ted Lilly for assignment, recalling INF Elian Herrera from Triple-A Albuquerque. Lilly was 0-2 with a 5.09 ERA in 23 innings this season before being activated from the disabled list Wednesday. He was plagued by injuries throughout the year and was at odds with the organization regarding his handling before his departure. ... Cincinnati SS Zack Cozart appears ready to return from sore hip that has bothered him since Tuesday. He did not play start Thursday but could play Friday. ... Reds LF Ryan Ludwick, who started a rehab assignment for Class A Dayton on Wednesday, is 1-for-3 with two walks through two minor league games. He's been out since injuring his right shoulder on Opening Day. ... Votto and Choo began play Thursday first and second in the league in walks. They are vying to become the first teammates to finish first and second since the San Francisco Giants' Will Clark and Brett Butler did so in 1988.
