CINCINNATI — Tuesday night’s game wasn’t a wild outburst — it was a precise, cool, and commanding performance from a team that knows how to finish off opponents when the time comes.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto once again showed why he was one of the Dodgers’ best signings of the year. With 7.0 innings pitched, just 1 point allowed, 9 K’s and 2 walks, Yamamoto not only delivered his ninth win of the season (his ERA is now down to 2.48), but also kept the Reds from getting off the mark.
On the other side of the ball, Corbin Burns had 10 strikeouts in 5.2 innings pitched, but his 3 ERs were more than enough for the Dodgers to take advantage of and not let go. Mookie Betts was at the top of the offense with 2-4, a double, a walk and three runs, showing why he’s the heartbeat of this lineup.
“We don’t need to hit six home runs a game,” Betts said after the game. “We need to play smart and be ruthless. That’s the DNA of the Dodgers right now.”
The win lifted the Dodgers to 62-45, keeping them atop the NL West and widening their lead.
🔍 Strategy Analysis:
Pitching discipline: Yamamoto used a 4-seam + splitter mix to great effect, holding the Reds to just four truly significant hits in the game.
Timely support: The Dodgers scored two runs off a walk and a sac fly before Betts unlocked the sixth inning with a double, which led to three decisive runs.
Cold Bullpen: After Yamamoto, Dreyer played the perfect “closer” role, holding a clean ninth inning, bringing his ERA down to 2.91.
📊 Top Performers:
Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD): 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 9 K, 2 BB
Mookie Betts (LAD): 2-4, 2B, BB, 3 R
Corbin Burns (CIN): 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 10 K, 1 BB
With their current form and a peak Yamamoto, the Dodgers are building a low-key – but dangerous – offense. And if they keep it as cold as they did tonight in Cincinnati, October could be a green fall in LA.