Dodgers come from behind to beat the Reds, take series win in Cincinnati

The Cincinnati Reds let one slip away against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Dodgers emerged victorious, 5-4, from a back-and-forth game with the Reds at Great American Ball Park on July 29, and spoiled the latest strong outing from Cincinnati starting pitcher Nick Lodolo.

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After surrendering a 4-2 lead lead in the seventh inning, the Dodgers' scored the game-winning run in the top of the ninth via a Will Smith RBI double. All five of the Los Angeles runs in the contest were scored with two outs.

The loss dropped the Reds to 56-52, and they'll need to win July 30 in the series finale against the Dodgers to avoid their first sweep of the season. Cincinnati is expected to send starter Nick Martinez (9-9, 4.69 ERA) to the mound against probable Dodgers starter, Shohei Ohtani (0-0, 1.50 ERA).

The Dodgers went ahead in the second inning on a two-run homer by Tommy Edman with two outs.

The Reds responded with a relative power surge in the fourth inning, hitting two home runs. That power output of two homers in an inning equaled the Reds' home run total from the previous nine games.

Jake Fraley clapped a two-run homer 405 feet. It was his sixth of the year. Noelvi Marte homered 350 feet, and that solo shot put the Reds in front.

An inning later, Elly De La Cruz drove in an insurance run for a 4-2 lead on a fielder's choice with the bases loaded.

All four of the Reds' runs were charged to Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow, who started strong against the Reds but walked five batters, including the last three he faced in the fifth inning. Glasnow (no decision) went four-plus innings and departed the game in line for the loss.

Reds starter Nick Lodolo exited the game after 5 1/3 innings and with the 4-2 lead intact. He struck out Ohtani (0-for-5, four strikeouts) three times and was in line for his ninth win of the season.

But in the seventh inning, the Dodgers plated two runs off Graham Ashcraft to tie the game at four.

Then, in the top of the ninth inning, the Dodgers went ahead, 5-4, when Smith effectively won the game for LA with his RBI double off the wall in left field. The hit and the Dodgers' fifth run came off Reds' reliever Emilio Pagán, who allowed a walk to leadoff batter Michael Conforto. James Outman was then inserted into the game to run for Conforto.

The Enquirer will update this report.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds get early lead, surrender game late vs. Dodgers