LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Los Angeles Dodgers got back in the game with a little patience, and then Corey Seager finished the rally with one big swing.
Seager capped Los Angeles’ six-run eighth inning with his first career grand slam, helping the Dodgers sweep the Cincinnati Reds with a 9-7 victory on Sunday.
Rookie Cody Bellinger sparked Los Angeles’ rally with one-out drive against Austin Brice. Rasiel Iglesias (2-1) replaced Brice with a runner on first and walked three straight batters to force in a run, trimming Cincinnati’s lead to 7-5. Seager then hit a drive to center for his ninth homer.
“You just kind of got to slow it down,” Seager said. “Just try to get to the next guy, keep the line moving and try to get a win.”
Seager also beat Cincinnati on Saturday night with an RBI double in the ninth for his first game-ending hit at any level.
“Outside of the skill set and the confidence - because you’ve obviously got a very confident young player - it’s his ability to be able to control the pulse,” manager Dave Roberts said. “He’s a guy that hits good pitching and performs in big spots, and he did again today.”
Bellinger also homered in the second and Chase Utley connected in the fifth for the Dodgers, who have won four straight. Luis Avilan (1-1) pitched a scoreless inning for the win, and Kenley Jansen got three outs for his 200th career save.
Adam Duvall, Scott Schebler, Joey Votto and Devin Mesoraco homered for the Reds, who dropped their sixth consecutive road game.
“Those are the tough ones,” manager Bryan Price said. “You’re going to have a few of those. Hopefully only a couple a year where those leads get away late. But they happen every year.”
Duvall led off the second with a drive to left and Schebler added a two-run homer, helping the Reds to a 3-0 lead. It was Duvall’s 15th homer and No. 18 for Schebler.
After Votto connected for a solo shot in the third, Utley belted a solo drive in the fifth that went off the glove of center fielder Billy Hamilton.
The Reds opened a 7-3 lead on Mesoraco’s three-run homer off Ross Stripling in the sixth.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Reds: Duvall made his first start after missing two games with an illness. … LHP Brandon Finnegan (shoulder strain) made his first rehab start for Double-A Pensacola, throwing three scoreless innings.
Dodgers: LHP Scott Kazmir (hip) remains at the team’s Arizona facility, building up arm strength through a weighted-ball program. Roberts said he was up to throwing 90-92 mph but they were working on him being able to maintain it. Roberts said they expect him to make a rehab start soon.
CLASSIC WALK
Enrique Hernandez put together a 13-pitch at-bat against Iglesias in the eighth, one that included eight foul balls, before walking to load the bases.
“The Hernandez at-bat was as good as you can get, really,” Price said. “I thought he just did a tremendous job. Fought off some tough pitches.”
GONZALEZ HURTING
Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez left in the seventh after complaining his back locked up again. He said he has two herniated disks and an MRI is scheduled.
“Tried my best to put together good at-bats and keep hitting pitches that I normally hit, but my body’s not letting me get there, so you’ve got to do what’s best for the team,” he said.
UP NEXT
Reds: RHP Bronson Arroyo (3-4, 6.25 ERA) is scheduled to pitch the series opener Monday in San Diego. Arroyo, 40, missed two seasons following elbow and shoulder surgeries. In his 13 starts this season, he has yet to pitch past the sixth inning.
Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (8-2, 2.20 ERA) pitches Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series in Cleveland. The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner is having another dominating season. He has held opponents to a .204 batting average.
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