Shohei Ohtani delivered a dominant performance, striking out nine over five innings and igniting a four-run fourth inning as the Los Angeles Dodgers completed a three-game sweep of the visiting Cincinnati Reds with a 5-1 victory.
Ohtani allowed just one run on two hits and two walks, earning a win from the mound. The right-hander showcased a varied arsenal, throwing 23 curveballs after previously relying on fewer in his first 10 starts this season.
Enrique Hernandez and rookie Dalton Rushing each contributed two-run singles, while Michael Conforto added a home run as the Dodgers extended their home winning streak to six games and opened a two-game lead over the San Diego Padres in the National League West.
Cincinnati’s Noelvi Marte hit a solo home run, and left-hander Nick Lodolo, making his first career start at Dodger Stadium, gave up four runs on five hits over 4 2/3 innings while striking out six. The Reds struggled on their recent road trip, dropping four of their last five games.
The Dodgers took control in the fourth inning after Ohtani led off with a single, followed by singles from Teoscar Hernandez and Andy Pages to load the bases. Enrique Hernandez’s two-run single and Dalton Rushing’s subsequent two-run hit put Los Angeles ahead 4-1. Conforto added a solo homer in the eighth inning against left-hander Brent Suter.
Five Dodgers pitchers combined for a season-high 19 strikeouts, highlighting the team’s dominant pitching performance in the series sweep.
