No magic that day: Kershaw and Dodgers shut out Reds 6-0

CINCINNATI (AP) — Clayton Kershaw threw seven scoreless innings, Chris Taylor hit his 10th homer of the season and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Cincinnati Reds 6-0 on Thursday afternoon.

Kershaw (8-4, 2.95 ERA) scattered five hits, struck out nine and walked two to help Los Angeles end its four-game losing streak and avoid a three-game sweep over the Reds, who have won the previous two games on the march. -out of mode.

Los Angeles has improved to 10-3 against Cincinnati since September 2021.

The Dodgers struck first in the third inning, scoring three runs against Reds starter Graham Ashcraft (3-5, 6.78 ERA). The right-hander dove both James Outman and Mookie Betts. Outman came on later to score on a base hit by Freddie Freeman.

Ashcraft ran through the bases loaded for David Peralta, who brought two more down a practice line to center field. An obviously injured Ashcraft was retired after 48 pitches and his high-profile struggles continue with another dismal performance.

Los Angeles took a 4-0 lead in the fourth on a 401-foot homer to center Chris Taylor against Cincinnati reliever Fernando Cruz.

The Dodgers added two more runs in the frame, as Austin Barnes doubled Outman, who reached on a step, and Barnes crossed home plate on a sacrifice fly from Freeman.

After batting left-handed in his first two major league games, Elly De La Cruz moved to the other side of home plate to take on Kershaw. De La Cruz hit a field single and then picked up his first stolen base in the majors.

De La Cruz faced Kershaw again in the sixth. With runners in the corners and no outs, De La Cruz drew an automatic ball due to a timer violation by Kershaw. Kershaw then threw three straight strikes, including a bad break ball on the last, to send De La Cruz back to the dugout.

De La Cruz got another at bat in the eighth, this time against reliever Tayler Scott. He hit swinging on the fifth pitch. The 6-foot-5 slugger finished the day 1 for 4 with three strikeouts.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: RHP Tayler Scott was recalled, while RHP Noah Syndergaard was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a blister in his right index finger. Manager Dave Roberts said Syndergaard will be out for at least “a few weeks” to both heal and take time away from baseball to “reset” physically, mentally and emotionally.

Reds: RHP Hunter Greene is staying on pace to start Sunday in St. Louis, manager David Bell said. Greene hasn’t pitched since June 1 because of a stiff right hip.

FOLLOWING

Dodgers: Los Angeles travel to Philadelphia on Friday to open a three-game series against the Phillies. RHP Michael Grove (0-2, 8.14 ERA) will lead the Dodgers against LHP Ranger Suárez (1-2, 5.47 ERA) and the defending NL champions.

Reds: RHP Ben Lively (3-3, 3.03 ERA) receives the ball Friday night when Cincinnati opens a three-game set at St. Louis. LHP Jordan Montgomery is expected to start for the last-place Cardinals, who are 13-16 at home this season.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports