Reds avoid sweep, beat Dodgers with three run 8th

Reds 5 Dodgers 2

Spencer Steer ended an epic 11 pitch 8th inning at-bat with a two-out, two-run triple to break a 2-2 tie. Dodgers center fielder James Outman climbed above the wall, but the ball caromed off his glove. Steer had been given a second life when left fielder Andy Pages could not catch his foul pop along the line.

The Reds (57-52) avoided being swept with a win in the final game of a series for the sixth time this season. That’s 35 straight series without being swept to begin the season. 

Led 1-0, trailed 2-1 in 4th, 2-2 4th, led 5-2 in 8th.

Offense: 8 H, 5 BB, 12 K. MLB best 75 1st inning runs. 
Steer: 2 H, 3B, 2 RBI, BB, R
Lux: 2B, R leading off
Elly: RBI 1B
Stephenson: 3 BB
Benson: H, SF, 2 RBI
McLain: 0-4, 3 K

Circle the sequence:
4th: Loaded, 0 outs = 1 R. Benson SF RBI, Espinal K, Lux K. 

How they scored:
1st Elly RBI 1B, 1-0 
4th Benson SF RBI, 2-2 
8th Steer 2-R 3B, 4-2, Benson RBI 1B, 6-2

Martinez: 6 IN, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 7 K, HR, 103 pitches. 4th: BB led to Freeman HR. 

Bullpen: 
Mey 1.0, Moll 0.1, BB LH Freeman, Barlow 0.2, 3rd night row, escaped loaded jam, Santillan 1.0, save No. 3

Shohei Ohtani left the mound (cramps) in the middle of Steer’s 4th inning at-bat, after six straight balls. He was replaced by LHP Anthony Banda, but remained the DH. Ohtani vs Reds last 3 seasons: 8 for 49, .163, 15 K.

Defense
37-24 w/ 0 error
20-28 w/ at least one error
Steer liner snag/DP
McLain should have fielded a grounder/ruled hit
Benson nice charging/sliding catch in CF + running catch in 9th
Espinal nice backhand catch foul pop 3B dugout railing
Marte bases loaded running catch in RF for his 1st OF putout