Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Scott Rolen hit a go-ahead two-run double as part of a four-run seventh inning, as the Cincinnati Reds held on for an 8-5 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the rubber match of a three-game series at Great American Ball Park.
Manny Injured As Dodgers Fall To Reds, 8-5
Jay Bruce clubbed a two-run homer, while Orlando Cabrera and Ryan Hanigan each added three hits and an RBI for Cincinnati, which won for only the second time in its last eight games overall. It was the first Reds' win that has not come in their last at-bat.
Rookie Mike Leake (1-0) picked up his first big league win after tossing seven innings. The right-hander allowed five runs on eight hits, walked one and struck out five. He becomes the first Cincinnati starter to earn a victory this season. Francisco Cordero recorded his sixth save with a scoreless ninth.
Andre Ethier and Garret Anderson each cracked a two-run homer for Los Angeles, which has split its last six. Vicente Padilla yielded four runs -- three earned -- on eight hits and fanned eight without issuing a walk, but did not factor in the decision. Hong-Chih Kuo (0-1) was tagged with the loss for giving up a pair of runs on one hit and a walk in one-third of a inning.
Dodgers left fielder Manny Ramirez left the game after the sixth inning due to a strained right calf.
Trailing 5-4 after 6 1/2 innings, Kuo replaced Padilla in the bottom of the seventh and retired the first batter before giving up a single to Cabrera and walking Joey Votto. Ronald Belisario then took over on the hill and got Brandon Phillips to line out to second, but Rolen's two-run double high off the left-center field wall gave the Reds a 6-5 lead.
RBI singles by Drew Stubbs and Hanigan gave Cincinnati a three-run cushion.
Arthur Rhodes pitched a perfect eighth and Cordero came on for the ninth and retired the lead-off man, then walked Blake DeWitt and served up a single to Russell Martin. The hard-throwing righty recovered to fan pinch-hitter Ronnie Belliard and got Rafael Furcal to fly out to left to end the game.
Either’s two-run homer to right in the top of the first staked Padilla to a 2-0 lead, but Votto’s sacrifice fly in the home half got the Reds on the board.
Both starters settled down to pitch scoreless ball over the next three innings, but Furcal’s RBI single in the top of the fifth made it a 3-1 game.
Cincinnati would get the run back in the home half on Cabrera’s run-scoring infield base hit and then take the lead in the sixth. Brandon Phillips led off the frame with a double and two batters later Bruce hammered a first-pitch sinker into the right-field seats to put the Reds up 4-3.
Anderson put the Dodgers back in front in the top of the seventh when he cracked a two-run homer to right, but the lead was short-lived as Cincinnati exploded for a four-spot in the home portion.
Game Notes
Los Angeles went 5-1 against Cincinnati a year ago and despite the loss, has still won 12 of the past 15 matchups between the clubs...The Reds went 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base, while LA finished 1-for-5 with RISP and stranded five.
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