Dodgers 7, Reds 4
CINCINNATI -- The Los Angeles Dodgers hit three fourth-inning homers, including two-run shots by Yasiel Puig and A.J Ellis, and Brett Anderson allowed three unearned runs in 6 2/3 innings of a 7-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night at Great American Ball Park.
It was the second straight win for the Dodgers (69-56), who arrived in Cincinnati on Monday having lost five straight games and eight in a row on the road.
A solo homer by left fielder Scott Van Slyke began a five-run barrage in the fourth inning against Reds right-hander David Holmberg (1-4), helping the Dodgers build a 6-0 lead.
Anderson (8-8), bolstered by the early run support, needed only 72 pitches to get through six innings. He retired 11 straight into the seventh when a dropped pop fly by second baseman Chase Utley sparked a two-out Reds rally.
Left fielder Ivan De Jesus Jr.'s RBI hit and a two-run single to center by catcher Brayan Pena cut the Dodgers' lead to 6-3.
Cincinnati's comeback continued in the eighth when second baseman Brandon Phillips delivered an RBI single against Juan Nicasio to make the score 6-4. With the tying runs aboard, Luis Avilan won a lefty-lefty matchup with right fielder Jay Bruce, striking him out to end the inning.
First baseman Adrian Gonzalez's RBI double in the ninth provided a cushion for Kenley Jansen, who allowed a hit and a walk before notching his 25th save.
The Dodgers loaded the bases with one out in the second and second baseman Kike Hernandez delivered a sharp single to right, making the score 1-0. Despite allowing three hits and a walk in the inning, Holmberg escaped with just one run allowed. By then, he had already thrown 50 pitches.
In the fifth, Van Slyke led off with his fifth home run of the season. After a walk to Utley, Ellis launched his fourth homer of the year to center, putting the Dodgers ahead 4-0.
Puig's 413-foot, two-run blast to center put LA ahead 6-0, capping a five-run inning against Holmberg (1-4), who was charged with six earned runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings.
Not much went right during the first six innings for Cincinnati (52-73), which has lost 11 of 12.
In the sixth, Hernandez broke his bat on a routine grounder. But Reds shortstop Eugenio Suarez had to dodge the top of Hernandez's bat, allowing the ball to roll into the outfield for a double.
NOTES: Dodgers CF Joc Pederson, who hasn't played since Friday while mired in a 5-for-41 slump, could return to the lineup for Thursday's series finale against the Reds, manager Don Mattingly said. ... Dodgers 2B Chase Utley took grounders at third base before Wednesday's game. He's expected to back up 3B Justin Turner when regular 2B Howie Kendrick comes off the disabled list. ... Reds OF Brennan Boesch missed his fourth straight game with a deep bone bruise after fouling a ball off his right ankle on Saturday. ... Los Angeles has spent 132 days in first place, second only to the St. Louis Cardinals, who have led the National League Central for 136 days.