LOS ANGELES — The Cincinnati Reds managed to get the big swing they needed against Tarik Skubal. Unfortunately, as is often the case with this 2026 squad, there weren’t enough swings around it.
Elly De La Cruz launched a gargantuan, 444-foot two-run home run in the third inning, but the Reds were held scoreless the rest of the way as the Los Angeles Dodgers secured a 3-2 victory Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium.
Los Angeles took the lead in the first inning when Will Smith worked a nine-pitch at-bat against Nick Lodolo before sending his seventh home run of the season over the wall in left field.
The Dodgers added another run in the second when Lodolo hit Tommy Edman with the bases loaded, forcing Teoscar Hernández home and extending the lead to 2-0. Lodolo escaped the inning without allowing further damage.
The Reds' only scoring inning came in the third when Dane Myers singled with two outs before De La Cruz drove a Skubal pitch deep into the left-center-field seats. The home run was the longest of the season for De La Cruz, the longest that Skubal has given up this season, and the longest at Dodger Stadium this season.
The score remained tied until the fifth inning when Mookie Betts reached and scored on Hernández’s line-drive single to center. That ended Lodolo’s night and gave the Dodgers a 3-2 lead they never relinquished.
Lodolo allowed three runs on five hits and three walks over 4? innings. He struck out six but needed 97 pitches to record 14 outs. Julian Garcia, Luis Mey and Graham Ashcraft combined to hold Los Angeles scoreless over the final 3? innings, keeping the Reds within striking distance.
But Cincinnati’s offense could not take advantage, though the Dodgers ran out some incredible arms tonight. Skubal held the Reds to two runs on four hits over 7? innings, striking out five and walking two. Edgardo Henriquez finished the eighth before Tanner Scott worked around a walk in the ninth to earn the save.
De La Cruz finished 2-for-4 with the home run and both Cincinnati RBIs. Myers, Tyler Stephenson and Matt McLain recorded the Reds’ other three hits.
What’s Next: The Reds will try to avoid a three-game sweep Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. Rhett Lowder is scheduled to start for Cincinnati against Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
