Recap: Reds Push Mat Latos Around To Rout Dodgers In Series Opener
After snapping their four-game losing streak with back-to-back wins over the Washington Nationals, the Los Angeles Dodgers began a four-game set against the Cincinnati Reds on a warm Thursday night at Dodger Stadium.
Along with it being the first meeting between Cincinnati and Los Angeles this season, Tuesday was also Mat Latos’ first look at the Reds since being traded to the Miami Marlins in December of last year. Alberto Callaspo committed a throwing error, which allowed leadoff batter Brandon Phillips to reach safely.
A.J. Ellis then threw Phillips out on his stolen base attempt, and Latos retired Eugenio Suarez and Joey Votto to throw a scoreless first inning. Keyvius Sampson walked Adrian Gonzalez with two outs in the bottom of the first and followed that by giving up a double to Andre Ethier.
Yasiel Puig worked a full count but grounded to shortstop, stranding both runners. Latos recorded consecutive strikeouts in the second inning, keeping the Reds off the bases in the process. After Sampson walked Joc Pederson with one out he retired A.J. Ellis on a fly ball and struck out Latos to end the inning with the game still in a scoreless tie.
Tucker Barnhart hit a leadoff double down the left field line in the third inning. Sampson, batting eighth for the Reds, moved Barnhart over to third base on a sacrifice bunt. Billy Hamilton slapped an RBI single to left field and the Reds took a 1-0 lead.
A Latos throw over to first base went wide of Gonzalez, which allowed Hamilton to race around to third base. He then scored on Phillips’ RBI single up the middle and the Reds took a 2-0 lead to the bottom of the third.
CONTINUE READING: Justin Turner Returns, Dodgers Attempt To Climb Back Into Game
