Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings August 26, 2015 THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 1939-The Reds participate in the first major league game to be televised. Playing the Dodgers at Ebbets Field, W2XBS, which later becomes WNBC-TV, broadcasts the game with Red Barber announcing for the 400 people or so who own a television in the New York area. CINCINNATI ENQUIRER Reds can't figure out Dodgers pitching By C. Trent Rosecrans / Cincinnati Enquirer / crosecrans@enquirer.com / @ctrent After the Dodgers were swept in Houston on Sunday, ace Clayton Kershaw noted the team may need to panic in order to keep their game-and-a-half lead in the National League West. Kershaw only needed to look at the schedule to see relief was coming. The Dodgers started a three-game series against the flailing Reds on Tuesday. The Reds did their job as a salve for the ails of the skidding Dodgers, falling 5-1 to Los Angeles in front of 22,783 at Great American Ball Park in the first game of a three-game series. John Lamb faced Los Angeles for the second time in his brief big-league career, and the Dodgers notched their second victory over the rookie while stopping their five-game losing streak. Lamb labored through the first, throwing 30 pitches to get out of the inning. He allowed a run on the first seven and then needing 23 more to get out of the inning. Lead-off man Jimmy Rollins doubled and Yasiel Puig followed with an RBI double in the first inning off of the 25-year-old Lamb, who made his big-league debut against the Dodgers in Los Angeles less than two weeks ago. After getting Adrian Gonzalez to fly out and striking out Justin Turner, Lamb walked Scott Van Slyke, and then struck out Chase Utley. "Without a doubt, I'd like to take myself deeper and the club deeper so we don't have to go to the pen. It's just learning the importance of getting ahead and staying ahead, execute pitches and apply pressure to the hitter or just in the general situation that I feel like I'm in control when I'm doing well," Lamb said. "It's definitely a learning experience, there's nothing to chalk it up to, it's just a disappointing night in regards to going out there and starting the team off in the hole 1-0. I just felt keeping the strike zone established was a challenge for me tonight." Lamb walked a batter in the second, but he got out of the inning unscathed. That wouldn't happen in the third. After striking out Puig to start the inning, Lamb gave up a double to Gonzalez and a two-run home run to former Reds farmhand Justin Turner. Turner who was sent to Baltimore along with Ryan Freel in the deal that brought back Ramon Hernandez back in 2008 now has 15 home runs this season. Despite having 91 pitches after four innings, Lamb came back out for the fifth. After hitting Gonzalez to start the inning, he had a fly out, pop out and strikeout to end his night, finishing with 108 pitches. In all, he allowed three runs on five hits with six strikeouts and three walks. With no run support, Lamb fell to 0-2 on the season. "He was kind of like Keyvius (Sampson on Monday)," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "He was right around the zone, but not enough on the plate early in the at-bat to create more swings early in the at-bat.
"I think he competes well. He's got a good presence about him. He's going to be fine. Our success is going to be in large part based on our ability to command and make good, quality pitches early in the at-bat and get these guys in swing mode and get some early outs and save some pitch counts." The Dodgers extended their lead in the sixth when starter Alex Wood singled with two outs against reliever Ryan Mattheus. Jimmy Rollins followed with his 13th home run of the season. The Reds finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning, when Brandon Phillips chased Wood with a two-out single. Todd Frazier followed with an RBI double off of reliever Chris Hatcher, who was immediately pulled in favor of lefty J.P. Howell, who got Jay Bruce to ground out to end the inning. It seems Frazier has broken out of his second-half slide, hitting.316 in his last 14 games now. In his first 23 games after the All-Star break, Frazier had hit just.148. He had just 13 hits in 88 at-bats and only six extra-base hits over that time (two home runs and four doubles). But since breaking out with a three-hit day in San Diego on Aug. 11, Frazier has gone 18-for-57 with eight doubles and two home runs, including a pair of doubles on Tuesday. That gives Frazier 38 doubles on the season, easily the most in the National League. He also has a league-leading 68 extra-base hits. "It's the most humbling sport in the world. I struggled, and then I figured it out, it just took a little longer than usual," Frazier said. "I feel good right now, I feel comfortable. I never lost the comfort it's just going outside my realm and swinging at bad pitches and trying to do too much. Now, we have to understand the position we're in, I've just got to relax and just be the best you can be." Bruce, meanwhile, continues to struggle. Bruce came up to the plate with runners in scoring position three times on Tuesday and each time he failed to come through. In the eighth, he struck out with the bases loaded representing the tying run. Votto worked a two-out walk, Phillips singled and Frazier walked, bringing up Bruce. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly brought in left-hander Luis Avilan, who retired Bruce. In the last 20 games, Bruce is hitting just.105, going 8-for-76, including 0-for-4 in Tuesday's loss. In 80 plate appearances over that span, he's struck out 21 times (twice Tuesday) and walked just three times. Much like Price the night before, Mattingly brought in his closer despite the fact it wasn't a save situation, and Kenley Jansen delivered, retiring the Reds in order in the ninth, as Cincinnati fell to 52-72 on the season. Reds' Hamilton itching to get back on the field By C. Trent Rosecrans / Cincinnati Enquirer / crosecrans@enquirer.com / @ctrent Billy Hamilton still spends part of his day in a shoulder brace, which means it s highly unlikely he ll be ready to come off the disabled list when eligible on Sept. 3. The Reds center fielder suffered a right shoulder injury on Aug. 18 and just started mobility exercises on Monday. Reds manager Bryan Price wouldn t put a timetable on Hamilton s return, but wasn t optimistic. It looks like it s going to be a while before baseball activities start, let s put it that way, Price said. Hamilton said his prognosis has stayed consistent from what the doctors have told him since the injury, and he hopes to return this season. There s no doubt in my mind that I want to be back out there, Hamilton said before Tuesday s game. This is just boring from playing baseball every day to watching these guys play, I just want to be out there with my guys. We re like a big family, you want to be a part of how everything s going and I want to be out there with those guys and I can t. Hamilton hurt himself making a diving attempt on a ball hit by Kansas City s Alcides Escobar in the 11th inning of an eventual 3-1 loss to the Royals. Although Hamilton didn t make the catch, he did stop the ball from going to the wall and came up firing, throwing out Escobar at second, despite injuring his right shoulder on the play.
My adrenaline was going, so I didn t really feel it until after I threw the ball, Hamilton said. I kind of figured it was on the throw, but then when I watched the video, it was more of the dive, but I was so amped up, I knew he was running, so I didn t really feel it until I threw it. Even knowing that, Hamilton said he d make the same play again. I m just happy I was able to stop it and get a throw in there, so we could at least have a chance to make the play, Hamilton said. It worked out for me. They say if you re going to get hurt, you want to get hurt trying to make a good play at least, so at least something good happened out of it. It was one of those where I want to go all out, no matter the situation, no matter how the team s playing, no matter how many games we re back, no matter the score during the game, we can be down 10 runs and I m still going to dive for that ball and try to make that play. BAR: Joey Votto's outstanding season By C. Trent Rosecrans / Cincinnati Enquirer / crosecrans@enquirer.com / @ctrent The Blog Above Replacement is Reds beat writer C. Trent Rosecrans' daily look at the Reds, their minor leagues and whatever else is on his mind. Joey Votto could be having his best season ever. That may be hard for some to believe, because the Reds are having a terrible season. But Votto is having an incredible season. Last night he hit his 24th home run of the season and with 39 games to go, roughly a quarter of the season, he's on track to hit more than 30 home runs for the second time in his career. And it's not just the power numbers, it's his all-around numbers. He's hitting.309/.446/.553, good for an OPS+ (on-base plus slugging, normalized for park and league factors) of 172, actually better than his MVP year of 2010 when he had an OPS+ of 171. It's better than any other of his seasons except 2012, when he was limited to 111 games. In Votto's five years from 2009-2013 - his age 25-29 seasons - Votto averaged.318/.431/.548 with a 162 OPS+, and he's even better this year at 31. With roughly a quarter of the season remaining, Votto has a bwar of 5.7 (seventh in the National League) and an owar (offense only) of 5.3, the third-best mark in the National League. At this point, he has a chance to top his bwar of 6.9 in his MVP season of 2010. Votto will finish in the top 10 in MVP balloting (full disclosure, I am not voting for MVP this year), and I think many around here will be surprised. What we're seeing is one of the best players in baseball having a great season for a bad team. Just looking around at some numbers, one thing I found interesting was that Votto continues to lay off pitches outside the zone, swinging at just 19.5 percent of pitches outside of the strike zone, his lowest percentage of his career. He's also swinging at 63.5 percent of pitches inside the zone, the second-lowest mark of his career. MINOR-LEAGUE ROUNDUP Triple-A: Indianapolis 3, Louisville 2, 13 innings: Josh Smith threw eight innings, allowing two runs on three hits with nine strikeouts and three walks. Catcher Ramon Cabrera was 3-for-6 with two doubles. Double-A: Mississippi 9, Pensacola 4: Sal Romano's struggles in Double-A continued, as the right-hander allowed seven earned runs in just 2.1 innings. He's 0-3 with a 16.50 ERA in five starts for the Blue Wahoos. On the other hand, Phillip Ervin continues to hit in his call-up, going 2-for-3 with a double, two walks and an RBI. He's hitting.400/.526/.933 in his five games at Double-A. High-A: Clearwater 2, Daytona 0: Amir Garrett allowed two runs on five hits over six innings with six strikeouts and three walks. Low-A: Dayton 9, Great Lakes 6, 15 innings: After scoring just three runs each in the first 13 innings, both teams scored three in the 14th and then the Dragons scored three more in the 15th. 3B Gavin LaValley was 3-for-8 with a home run and 3 RBI. RF Aristides Aquino was also 3-for-8 with 3 RBI. Rookie: Billings 6, Missoula 4: 1B Kevin Franklin was 2-for-3 with two doubles and three RBI.
MLB.COM Piling up pitches: Reds' rookies laboring Lamb tallies 108 over five innings to continue exhausting trend among rotation By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com / mark.sheldon@mlb.com / @m_sheldon CINCINNATI -- In his third Major League start, and second vs. the Dodgers, Reds rookie John Lamb has followed the trend that has plagued the all-rookie rotation by racking up a lot of pitches in a short amount of time. In the Reds' 5-1 loss to Los Angeles on Tuesday, Lamb lasted only five innings, during which he threw 108 pitches. His line was respectable, but not remarkable, as he gave up three runs and five hits with three walks, six strikeouts and Justin Turner's two-run homer in the third inning. What hurt Lamb were long at-bats and lengthy innings. He did not retire the side in order at any point. The left-hander racked up 30 pitches through the first inning, and 72 over three innings. After he gave up back-to-back doubles to lead off the first for a run, his two-out walk of Scott Van Slyke on a full count forced him to use seven more pitches to escape while avoiding more damage. "Without a doubt, I would like to take myself deeper, and the club deeper, in the game so we don't have to go to the 'pen," said Lamb, ranked by MLB.com as the Reds' No. 21 prospect. "It's just learning the importance to get ahead, stay ahead, execute pitches, apply pressure to the hitter and the general situation that I'm in control out there when I'm doing well. It's definitely a learning experience. There's nothing really to chalk it up to." Acquired from the Royals in the three-for-one trade that moved ace Johnny Cueto, Lamb is 0-2 with a 6.06 ERA in his three starts. In 16 1/3 innings, he's given up 11 runs, 22 hits and five walks with 21 strikeouts as he tries to establish himself with a new club. Lamb had 112 pitches in 5 1/3 innings his last time out vs. the D-backs on Thursday as he hung in there for a depleted bullpen. In his debut at Los Angeles, he got through six innings with 99 pitches. Lamb is hardly alone among Cincinnati starters in learning how to navigate through big league lineups. The pitcher Lamb replaced in the rotation, Michael Lorenzen, often was around 100 pitches by the fifth. Keyvius Sampson had 100 pitches over only four innings on Monday for a no-decision vs. Detroit. Sampson threw 95 pitches in 3 1/3 innings in the outing before that vs. Kansas City. Wednesday's starter, David Holmberg, needed 96 pitches to get through five innings vs. the D-backs on Friday while he was pummeled for five runs and 11 hits. "[Lamb] was kind of like Keyvius yesterday -- right around the zone, but not on the plate enough early in the at-bat to create more swings," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "The at-bats kind of dragged on a little bit. He was around the plate. He competes well. The kid's got a good presence about him. "He'll be fine, but our success is going to be in large part based on our ability to command and make good quality pitches early in the at-bat and get these guys in swing mode, get some early outs and save on pitch counts." Reds miss late chances in loss to Dodgers By Ken Gurnick and Mark Sheldon / MLB.com CINCINNATI -- Justin Turner and Jimmy Rollins slugged two-run homers as the Dodgers snapped a five-game losing streak Tuesday night with a 5-1 win over the Reds at Great American Ball Park. With the victory, the Dodgers extended their National League West lead to 2 1/2 games after the Giants lost to the Cubs, 8-5. Rollins and Yasiel Puig opened the game with back-to-back doubles off Reds starter John Lamb for the Dodgers' first run. Turner's one-out homer in the third inning, his 15th, followed a double by Adrian Gonzalez. Rollins homered off reliever Ryan Mattheus in the sixth, his 13th. The Reds, who have lost 10 of 11, scored a two-out run in the sixth with a single off winning starter Alex Wood (9-8) and the second double of the game by Todd Frazier, this one off reliever Chris Hatcher. "Honestly, I waited a hitter too long," manager Don Mattingly said of removing Wood with a shutout. "Todd's first two times up he was right on the pitches. This was more about his swings and the respect we have for him. He wasn't going to get Frazier again. I didn't feel he had enough to get back through Frazier again."
Hatcher was the first of five Dodgers relievers who finished up the final 3 1/3 innings without being charged for a run, although Juan Nicasio returned from the disabled list and loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth. Luis Avilan came on to strike out Jay Bruce and put down that threat. "It was the biggest out of the year, because our season started tonight," said Mattingly. Mattingly backs Kershaw's call for 'urgency' MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Dodgers defense: The Reds had runners on base in five of Wood's six innings, but the Dodgers turned two double plays, and Puig made a running catch in the right-center gap to rob Jason Bourgeois of an RBI extra-base hit to end the fifth inning. The infield turned a third double play behind J.P. Howell in the seventh inning. Frazier drives in a run: It was 5-0 in the sixth, when a Brandon Phillips two-out single finished Wood's night. Frazier ended the Los Angeles shutout bid with his RBI double, on which Phillips scored with a headfirst slide as the throw home went over the catcher. Frazier also hit a leadoff double in the second inning, but he was left stranded. Cut4: Phillips engages in basepath dance with A-Gon Howell, Avilan put out fires: After Frazier's RBI double, Howell came on to retire Bruce on a grounder to first baseman Gonzalez and end the threat. Bruce was again the escape hatch for the Dodgers to end the eighth, when Avilan came on to strike him out with the bases loaded. The Reds were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. "We got enough outs tonight," said Mattingly. LeCure smooth again: Reds reliever Sam LeCure took over in the eighth inning and retired the side in order with groundouts sandwiching a flyout to right field. LeCure has worked five scoreless innings in his three appearances since returning to the big leagues from a season-long stint at Triple-A Louisville. The right-hander has retired 14 of his 15 batters faced, with one walk. QUOTABLE "He said he had a four-hit shutout. It was a pretty good case." -- Mattingly, on what Wood said trying to stay in the game "It's a disappointing night in regards to going out there and starting the team off in a hole, 1-0, early. It's part of the game. I feel like keeping the strike zone established was a struggle for me tonight." -- Lamb on his start, in which he allowed three earned runs and five hits over five innings, with three walks and six strikeouts, while throwing 108 pitches. More > WHAT'S NEXT Dodgers: Brett Anderson starts the second game of the three-game series Wednesday at 4:10 p.m. PT, coming off a loss in Houston, where he allowed three runs in six innings. With an almost identical line, Anderson was the winning pitcher against the Reds at home on Aug. 15, his first career start against Cincinnati. Reds: Facing Anderson for the second time this month will be David Holmberg in the 7:10 p.m. ET game on Wednesday. Holmberg lasted five innings but allowed five earned runs and 11 hits on Friday vs. Arizona. At Los Angeles in the Aug. 15 meeting, he lasted only two-plus innings and gave up seven earned runs, including three homers. Hamilton rehabbing slower than expected Reds outfielder yet to return to baseball activity while nursing shoulder sprain By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com / mark.sheldon@mlb.com / @m_sheldon CINCINNATI -- When they placed him on the 15-day disabled list last week, the Reds initially hoped center fielder Billy Hamilton would make a speedy recovery from a sprained capsule inside his right shoulder. On Tuesday, Hamilton's target return date was still questionable. Hamilton, who went on the DL Aug. 19 and can be activated on Sept. 3, has yet to return to baseball activity, but he is still rehabilitating. "He has periods of time throughout the day where he's still in the shoulder brace. It would not suggest there is a near return," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "It looks like it's going to be a while before baseball activities start, let's put it that way." Hamilton was injured on Aug. 18 vs. the Royals trying to make a diving play on an Alcides Escobar drive to right-center field. Although injured on the dive, he still stopped the ball on one hop and managed to throw out Escobar at second base in a fantastic play.
"I just started moving it around yesterday and doing a few exercises," Hamilton said. "The next few days, I'm going to get the sling off and see where it goes from there. I don't know exactly what the process is going to be after I get the sling off or whatever, but hopefully I can start moving it around." With four games to go in 2014, Hamilton missed the final few days of the season after he suffered a concussion while making a catch against the center-field fence. Just like that play, Hamilton had no regrets about giving up his body again to do something positive defensively. "They say if you're going to get hurt, you want to get hurt trying to make a good play at least, so at least something good happened out of it," he said. "It was one of those where I want to go all out, no matter the situation, no matter how the team's playing, no matter how many games we're back, no matter the score during the game. We can be down 10 runs and I'm still going to dive for that ball and try to make that play. If I had a chance to do it again, I'd try to make the same play." Hamilton, 24, is batting.226/.272/.290 this season, with 54 stolen bases in 107 games. While it's been a struggle at the plate, he still hopes to finish the year. "I'm pushing, there's no doubt in my mind that I want to be back out there," Hamilton said. Worth noting The Reds' bench is shorthanded as outfielder Brennan Boesch is dealing with a deep bone bruise in his right ankle. Boesch, who fouled a ball off of his ankle on Saturday, has been on crutches and in a protective boot. Lefty pitcher Tony Cingrani exited his Sunday start for Triple-A Louisville after three innings because of shoulder discomfort in his throwing arm. A diagnosis wasn't yet known. "It doesn't sound like it's anything significant, but it could affect his next time through the rotation," Price said. Dodgers aim to keep pedal down in Cincy By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com / mark.sheldon@mlb.com / @m_sheldon Justin Turner was only two years into his Minor League career when the Reds traded him to the Orioles before the 2009 season. Now a fixture as the Dodgers' third baseman, Turner has certainly not suffered while hitting against his former organization. Turner -- who hit a two-run home run in Tuesday's series opener that helped the Dodgers snap a five-game losing streak -- is batting.353 (12-for-34) in his last 10 games vs. the Reds. That includes Aug. 15 at Dodger Stadium, when he led off the third inning with a homer vs. David Holmberg. The Reds will be starting Holmberg again on Wednesday in a rematch with fellow left-hander Brett Anderson. At Great American Ball Park, Turner has reached safely in 10 of 11 career games and is batting.342 (13-for-38). He went to Baltimore along with Ryan Freel and Minor Leaguer Brandon Waring on Dec. 9, 2008, for catcher Ramon Hernandez. Following a 2010-13 stint with the Mets, Turner went to the Dodgers in 2014 as a free agent. Things to know about this game Anderson was an 8-3 victor over Cincinnati in the previous meeting, allowing the three runs on six hits over six innings, with two walks and three strikeouts. Holmberg lasted only two-plus innings in his outing vs. Los Angeles, giving up seven runs on five hits, including three homers. He followed up with five earned runs and 11 hits allowed over five innings in a loss to Arizona on Friday. Especially with the Reds starting a lefty, Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal could miss a third straight start with a bruised left shoulder. Even though the injury is not in Grandal's throwing shoulder, it bothers him to swing. In their previous meeting, Todd Frazier hit a home run vs. Anderson, a two-run shot to right field. It was Frazier's 29th homer of the season, tying his career high. It was also the last time he's cleared the fences. ASSOCIATED PRESS Reds can't climb out of hole against Dodgers, lose 5-1
By Gary Schatz / The Associated Press CINCINNATI A rookie starter put Cincinnati in an early hole again, but this time, the Reds couldn't climb out of it. Alex Wood took a shutout into the sixth inning, and Jimmy Rollins and Justin Turner each hit two-run home runs as the Los Angeles Dodgers snapped their five-game losing streak with a 5-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night. The Reds have lost 10 of their last 11 games. The lone win came Monday, when the team overcame a rocky outing from rookie Keyvius Sampson by scoring 10 runs in the sixth in a 12-5 win over Detroit. On Tuesday, Rollins and Yasiel Puig gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead with doubles into the left field corner on back-to-back pitches with nobody out in the first off rookie John Lamb. Puig's liner bounced off the top of the wall, a couple of feet from being a home run. Lamb (0-2), who came to the Reds in the Johnny Cueto trade, lasted five innings, allowing five hits and three runs with three walks and six strikeouts. "Without a doubt I'd like to take the club deeper into the game. It's definitely a learning experience. I put us in a hole," Lamb said. "I'm learning to continue to make pitches and apply the pressure. Walks have come back to bite me in the butt. It's preached at the lower levels trying to get here. I'm learning to stay in the moment." Cincinnati got its leadoff batter on base in four of the first five innings, but never pushed anybody past second with Wood (9-8) on the mound. He left after Brandon Phillips singled with two outs in the sixth, and reliever Chris Hatcher then gave up Todd Frazier's RBI double, his second of the game. He leads the NL with 38 doubles. Wood gave up four hits and one run with three walks and four strikeouts. "We didn't have a lot of opportunities," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "Wood did a good job going back and forth on his threepitch mix. He was good at holding runners. He would hold the ball a while, then mix in a slide step." The Reds hit into two double plays with Wood on the mound and one more after he left. J.P. Howell finished the sixth and seventh. The Reds loaded the bases with two outs against Juan Nicasio in the eighth, but Luis Avilan struck out Jay Bruce before Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth. Turner reached the left field seats for his 15th homer of the season with Adrian Gonzalez on and one out in the fourth. Rollins added his 13th homer in the sixth off of Ryan Mattheus. TRAINER'S ROOM Dodgers: C Yasmani Grandal's sore left shoulder will likely keep him out of the lineup until at least Thursday. Grandal missed Sunday's game and, with Monday's open date, he'll have four consecutive days off. "It is affecting his swing," Mattingly said of the All-Star catcher. Reds: OF Brennan Boesch was day to day with a deep bone bruise in his right ankle. Boesch hasn't played since fouling a ball off of the ankle on Saturday. UP NEXT Dodgers: LHP Brett Anderson (7-8, 3.52) is Wednesday's scheduled starter in a rematch with Reds LHP David Holmberg of their Aug. 15 matchup at Dodger Stadium, won by Los Angeles, 8-3. Reds: Holmberg (1-3, 6.57 ERA) set career highs by allowing seven earned runs, four walks and three home runs in just two innings of that loss to the Dodgers. WALKER! Joey Votto drew three walks and has 13 over the last six games. He's drawn at least one in each of those games, the longest active streak in the majors and Votto's third streak of at least six games this season. He has four consecutive multi-walk games and more walks (49) than hits (46) since the All-Star break.
MISSING FRIENDS Former Red and current Dodgers RHP Mat Latos is in Arizona and will miss the series against his former team. With three open dates over eight days, the Dodgers adjusted their rotation, skipping Latos, who hasn't pitched since Aug. 13. Instead, they sent him to Arizona to prepare for a Saturday start against the Cubs. "He threw a five-inning simulated game (Monday)," Mattingly said. "We weren't going to use him out of the bullpen and he needs to throw. It didn't make sense to fly him in here, then back to Los Angeles. He hasn't been out that long." Blue Jays claim Roach off waivers from Reds By The Associated Press ARLINGTON, Texas The Toronto Blue Jays have claimed right-hander Donn Roach off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds. Toronto received Roach on Tuesday, and he will join Triple-A Buffalo later this week. Roach was designated for assignment Sunday after going 2-4 with a 6.00 ERA in seven starts for Triple-A Louisville. Outfielder Michael Saunders was transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL to make room on the 40-man roster. Saunders is out for the season with a bone bruise in his left knee. Roach gave up eight hits and four runs in 3 1-3 innings in his only major league start this season, for the Chicago Cubs. He had a 4.75 ERA in 16 games for San Diego last season. Dodgers snap 5-game losing streak with 5-1 win over Reds By Mark Schmetzer / The Associated Press CINCINNATI Don Mattingly wanted his slumping Los Angeles Dodgers to treat Tuesday's game like the opener of a new season. Alex Wood and Jimmy Rollins made sure they got off on the right foot. Wood took a shutout into the sixth inning, and Rollins and Justin Turner each hit two-run home runs as the Dodgers snapped their five-game losing streak with a 5-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night. "It just feels like a good win for us," Mattingly said. Rollins also doubled and scored while the NL West-leading Dodgers matched their run total from their previous four games combined. "It's a very big win needed," Rollins said. "It was good to get back on track tonight. The marathon part of the season is over. Now, it's a five-week sprint." Wood (9-8) went 5 2-3 innings and gave up one run on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts. "That was a good team win," said Wood, whose two-out single preceded Rollins' sixth-inning home run. "We played really good defense, got (three) double plays. It was nice to come out swinging the bats." The Reds, who scored 10 runs in the sixth inning of their 12-5 win over Detroit on Monday, have lost 10 of their last 11 games. "We didn't have a lot of opportunities," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "Wood did a good job going back and forth on his threepitch mix. He was good at holding runners. He would hold the ball a while, then mix in a slide step." Cincinnati got its leadoff batter on base in four of the first five innings, but never pushed anybody past second with Wood on the mound. He left after Brandon Phillips singled with two outs in the sixth, and reliever Chris Hatcher then gave up Todd Frazier's RBI double. J.P. Howell finished the sixth and seventh. The Reds loaded the bases with two outs against Juan Nicasio in the eighth, but Luis Avilan struck out Jay Bruce before Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth.
Rollins and Yasiel Puig gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead with doubles into the left field corner on back-to-back pitches with nobody out in the first. Puig's liner bounced off the top of the wall, a couple of feet from being a home run. Turner reached the left field seats for his 15th homer of the season with Adrian Gonzalez on and one out in the fourth. Rollins added his 13th homer in the sixth off of Ryan Mattheus. John Lamb (0-2), one of five rookies in Cincinnati's starting rotation, lasted five innings, allowing five hits and three runs with three walks and six strikeouts. "Without a doubt I'd like to take the club deeper into the game," Lamb said. "It's definitely a learning experience. I can learn what pitches to throw, but then I have to execute them. I'm learning to continue to make pitches and apply the pressure. Walks have come back to bite me in the butt. It's preached at the lower levels trying to get here. I'm learning to stay in the moment." STAYING SHARP Dodgers RHP Mat Latos didn't travel with the team to Cincinnati, where he played from 2012 through 2014. With three open dates over eight days, the Dodgers adjusted their rotation, skipping Latos, who hasn't pitched since Aug. 13. Instead, they sent him to Arizona to prepare for a Saturday start against the Cubs. "He threw a five-inning simulated game (Monday)," Mattingly said. "We weren't going to use him out of the bullpen and he needs to throw. It didn't make sense to fly him in here, then back to Los Angeles. He hasn't been out that long." WALKER! Joey Votto drew three walks and has 13 over the last six games. He's drawn at least one in each of those games, the longest active streak in the majors and Votto's third streak of at least six games this season. He has four consecutive multi-walk games and more walks (49) than hits (46) since the All-Star break. TRAINER'S ROOM Dodgers: C Yasmani Grandal's sore left shoulder will likely keep him out of the lineup until at least Thursday. Grandal missed Sunday's game and, with Monday's open date, he'll have four consecutive days off. "It is affecting his swing," Mattingly said of the All-Star catcher. Reds: OF Brennan Boesch was day to day with a deep bone bruise in his right ankle. Boesch hasn't played since fouling a ball off of the ankle on Saturday. UP NEXT Dodgers: LHP Brett Anderson (7-8, 3.52) is Wednesday's scheduled starter in a rematch with Reds LHP David Holmberg of their Aug. 15 matchup at Dodger Stadium, won by Los Angeles, 8-3. Reds: Holmberg (1-3, 6.57 ERA) set career highs by allowing seven earned runs, four walks and three home runs in just two innings of that loss to the Dodgers. TRANSACTIONS Date Transaction 08/26/15 Cleveland Indians placed RHP Carlos Carrasco on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to August 22, 2015. Right shoulder inflammation Cleveland Indians activated RHP Cody Anderson from the 15-day disabled list. 08/25/15 Los Angeles Angels placed 2B Johnny Giavotella on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to August 21, 2015. personal medical condition Los Angeles Dodgers activated RHP Juan Nicasio from the 15-day disabled list. Miami Marlins placed RHP Kendry Flores on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to August 22, 2015. right shoulder tendinitis Miami Marlins activated LF Christian Yelich from the 15-day disabled list. Toronto Blue Jays transferred RF Michael Saunders from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list. Left knee inflammation Washington Nationals activated CF Denard Span from the 15-day disabled list. Baltimore Orioles placed C Steve Clevenger on the paternity list.
San Francisco Giants placed LHP Jeremy Affeldt on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to August 24, 2015. Left knee subluxation Washington Nationals sent 1B Tyler Moore on a rehab assignment to Potomac Nationals. San Francisco Giants sent OF Angel Pagan on a rehab assignment to Sacramento River Cats. Washington Nationals sent 2B Dan Uggla on a rehab assignment to Potomac Nationals. Washington Nationals optioned Tanner Roark to Potomac Nationals. Toronto Blue Jays optioned Donn Roach to Buffalo Bisons. Pittsburgh Pirates sent Pedro Florimon outright to Indianapolis Indians. Baltimore Orioles sent Eddie Gamboa outright to Norfolk Tides. Toronto Blue Jays claimed RHP Donn Roach off waivers from Cincinnati Reds. Chicago Cubs signed free agent 2B Emilio Bonifacio to a minor league contract. Baltimore Orioles selected the contract of Paul Janish from Norfolk Tides. San Francisco Giants recalled Mike Broadway from Sacramento River Cats. Los Angeles Angels recalled Drew Rucinski from Salt Lake Bees.