Dodgers Vs. Reds Final Score: Adrian Gonzalez Leads L.A. To 5-3 Win

The Los Angeles Dodgers needed Clayton Kershaw back in their starting rotation, and needed big hits with their postseason chances running out.

They had both Sunday night in Cincinnati, and picked up an important 5-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds thanks to Kershaw's pitching and two home runs from Adrian Gonzalez.

Kershaw, back from a hip injury that kept him from pitching since Sept. 11, threw five innings and allowed only one run on five hits. He also walked five. Gonzalez, a middle-of-the-order bat who hadn't homered since his debut game with the Dodgers last month, hit solo shots in the third and seventh innings as Los Angeles remained three games back of the last Wild Card spot.

The Dodgers (79-74) trail the current Wild Card spot holders, the St. Louis Cardinals, by three games and the surging Milwaukee Brewers by half a game with nine games left in the regular season.

Brandon League got the save for L.A., his 14th. Denis Phipps homered for the NL Central winners. Shawn Tolleson (3-1) got the win in relief for the Dodgers.

This story was originally published on Baseball Nation.

For more Dodgers insight and analysis, check out Dodgers blog True Blue LA. For more about the Reds, see Red Reporter.

Dodgers Vs. Reds Game Preview: LA Looks For Series Win

The Los Angeles Dodgers will look to get back in the winner's column when they face the Cincinnati Reds in the finale of their three-game series on Sunday.

The Dodgers are facing one of the best teams in baseball at a time when their playoff hopes are dwindling all around them. The San Francisco Giants won the NL West title on Saturday after defeating the San Diego Padres so any chance of getting into the playoffs as a division champion are now gone along with the anticipation of a Dodgers-Giants series at the end of the regular season determining the division champion.

The Dodgers have to focus on the Reds and the NL Wild Card. The Dodgers are three games back of the St. Louis Cardinals for the second Wild Card spot.

Righty Aaron Harang will pitch for the Dodgers against right-hander Homer Bailey for the Reds. Harang is 9-10 with a 3.80 ERA while Bailey is 12-9 with a 3.82 ERA this season.

Game Time: 5:05 p.m. PT

Television Coverage: ESPN

Stick with this StoryStream for lineups, scores and more from the Dodgers vs. Reds series. For more insight and analysis, check out Dodgers blog True Blue LA.

Dodgers Vs. Reds Game Recap: Los Angeles Bats Remain Silent In 6-0 Loss

After winning the series opener on Friday, the Los Angeles Dodgers were unable to string together consecutive wins Saturday afternoon as the team fell to the NL Central Division Champions Cincinnati Reds by the score of 6-0.

The Dodgers sent right-handed pitcher Stephen Fife to the mound, who pitched a strong five innings and took the loss. However, Reds starting pitcher Mat Latos dominated the Dodgers bats, tossing a scoreless eight innings while striking out seven batters and walking none.

While the Dodgers were able to muster just six hits against Latos, the game remained within reach. The Dodgers entered the top of the eight only down three runs, but found themselves down six after the bottom of the eighth in which Jamey Wright allowed three runs without recording an out.

Reds then summoned their fireball closer Aroldis Chapman to close the door. As he has done most of the season, the southpaw did just that, tossing a scoreless inning of work while giving Mat Latos the win. Los Angeles is now just four games above .500 and are three games back in the loss column of the second wild card spot in the National League.

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Dodgers vs. Reds Lineups: Shane Victorino Not Playing Saturday

The Los Angeles Dodgers are riding high after picking up an extra-innings win in their series opener with the Reds. As the club continues to make a push for the National League's second wild card spot, they enter Saturday just two games back in the standings.

The Reds begin the day with a magic number of one to win the NL Central. With the Cubs and Cardinals playing three hours before first pitch is scheduled at Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati could end up winning the division today regardless of whether they win or lose.

The lineups for this afternoon's game have been released. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. PT, and the game will be televised on FOX.

Dodgers:

Mark Ellis 2B
Andre Ethier RF
Matt Kemp CF
Adrian Gonzalez 3
Hanley Ramirez SS
Luis Cruz 3B
Juan Rivera LF
A.J. Ellis C
Stephen Fife P

Reds:

Brandon Phillips 2B
Xavier Paul LF
Joey Votto 1B
Todd Frazier 3B
Jay Bruce RF
Chris Heisey CF
Dioner Navarro C
Zack Cozart SS
Mat Latos P

It should be noted that if the Reds do indeed clinch the division with a Cardinals loss, they could elect to pull a few of their starters before first pitch.

Stick with this StoryStream for lineups, scores and more from the Dodgers vs. Reds series. For more insight and analysis, check out Dodgers blog True Blue LA.

Dodgers Vs. Reds Game Preview: Dodgers Look To Stay Alive In Playoff Race

The Los Angeles Dodgers look to stay in the playoff hunt on Saturday, taking on the Cincinnati Reds in Game 2 of their three game series. Los Angeles is two games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the second NL Wild Card. The Reds entered the series with a chance to clinch the NL Central division title, but the Dodgers prevented that for at least a day with a 10-inning, 3-1 win on Friday night.

Stephen Fife (0-1, 2.49 ERA) will pitch for Los Angeles. He's winless in the four starts he's made since making his major league debut in July. Mat Latos (12-4, 3.76 ERA) will take the hill for the Reds. He only has two decisions in his last four starts, but he's gone at least six innings in each of them and they're all Cincinnati wins.

Game Time: 1:05 p.m. PT
Television Coverage: FOX

Stick with this StoryStream for lineups, scores and more from the Dodgers vs. Reds series. For more insight and analysis, check out Dodgers blog True Blue LA.

Dodgers Vs. Reds Game Recap: Dodgers Win 3-1 In 10 Innings

The Los Angeles Dodgers got a much-needed win Friday, knocking off the Cincinnati Reds 3-1 in 10 innings. Both the Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals lost on Friday, allowing the Dodgers to gain a game in the National League Wild Card race. L.A. is now two games back of the second Wild Card slot.

Friday's game was a pitchers duel with neither offense able to get much going. The Dodgers scored first with a run in the second inning, but Cincinnati tied the game 1-1 in the fifth. The game remained tied until Matt Kemp broke the tie in the top of the 10th inning with a two-run single. Kemp finished the game 3-5 with two RBI.

Brandon League closed the door in the bottom of the inning, picking up his fourth save with the Dodgers and securing the win for Ronald Belisario. Belisario pitched two scoreless innings and struck out five of the six batters he faced. Joe Blanton started the game for the Dodgers, allowing one run over 5 2/3 innings.

The Dodgers will continue their series with the Reds on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 1:05 PT.

For more on the Dodgers, head over to True Blue L.A. For news and insight from across the league, check out Baseball Nation.

Don Mattingly Sees Dodgers' Playoff Chances Slipping Away

After losing, 4-1, to the Washington Nationals on Thursday and falling to three games back in the NL wild card race, the Los Angeles Dodgers are starting to see a potential postseason berth slip through their fingers, manager Don Mattingly said in the clubhouse after the game.

"Honestly, it does. It feels like it is a little bit," Mattingly told MLB.com. "I just don't think there's any way for us to look at it other than that. We're going in the wrong direction."

With only 12 games remaining in the season, the Dodgers are 10 games back of the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants and three games behind the St. Louis Cardinals, who beat the Houston Astros earlier Thursday, for the final wild card spot. The Atlanta Braves, St Louis and the Milwaukee Brewers are all ahead of the Dodgers in the wild card race.

"It's been challenging because you have to continually pick yourself up and push your club to get better and to keep fighting," Mattingly told The Los Angeles Times. "That gets tougher and tougher as games dwindle away and you fall back. It's a challenging time."

For more on the Dodgers, head over to True Blue L.A. For news and insight from across the league, check out Baseball Nation.

Dodgers Vs. Reds Game Preview: Joe Blanton Starts Opener In Cincinnati

The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to fight for a spot in the playoffs, and that fight extends into Great American Ball Park for a three-game series starting Friday against the Cincinnati Reds.

The Reds clinched a playoff berth Thursday. Their magic number to clinch their second National League Central title in three years is at two entering play Friday. The St. Louis Cardinals play Friday afternoon against the Chicago Cubs, so the Reds will take the field Friday knowing whether a win over the Dodgers would clinch the division championship.

Joe Blanton, who played his college baseball about 80 miles south of Cincinnati at the University of Kentucky, will start Friday for the Dodgers. Los Angeles enters play Friday three games behind the Cardinals for the National League's second wild card playoff spot.

Since Blanton joined the Dodgers in an August trade from the Philadelphia Phillies, he has a 6.07 ERA in in 46 innings pitched.

Bronson Arroyo will start for the Reds. Arroyo has pitched at least six innings in 10 of his last 11 starts, and he has an ERA of 3.28 over that span.

First pitch at Great American Ball Park on Friday is at 4:10 p.m. PT. The game will be televised on MLB Network and PRIME.

Keep up with the latest on the Dodgers at True Blue L.A., and keep up with Reds' news and opinions at Red Reporter. All of the latest on Major League Baseball can be found at Baseball Nation.

Dodgers Vs. Reds: Aaron Harang Likely To Start Sunday On 3 Days Rest

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly announced on Thursday that Aaron Harang will likely start against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday on three days rest. The rotation is being shuffled in order to keep Josh Beckett on a regular schedule. Harang pitched on Wednesday, going 4⅓ innings while giving up two runs on seven hits and two walks.

Mattingly's other option to pitch on Sunday is John Ely, who has made only two big-league appearances this year, both of which came in relief. Joe Blanton will start on Friday, and rookie Stephen Fife will take the ball on Saturday.

The Dodgers are currently three games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the final Wild Card spot with 12 games remaining. The Reds have already clinched a playoff berth, but their magic number to clinch the NL Central is only two.

For more on Dodgers baseball, be sure to read True Blue LA. You can also check out everything we have to offer at Baseball Nation.