The Dodgers homered three times in a five-run fourth inning Wednesday night to chase rookie starter David Holmberg, and they held on for a 7-4 win over the Reds at Great American Ball Park.
With the victory, the Dodgers remained 2 1/2 games ahead of the second-place Giants, who beat the Cubs, 4-2. Since Aug. 13, the Dodgers are 5-5, all of the wins against the Reds.
Scott Van Slyke led off the fourth with a home run, and the Dodgers added two-run shots by A.J. Ellis and Yasiel Puig. In two starts against the Dodgers, Holmberg has allowed 13 runs and six homers, two by Puig.
“I struggled a little with consistency in the strike zone, and the command is not really there right now,” Holmberg said. “I need to be more aggressive with hitters and get quick outs.”
Dodgers winning starter Brett Anderson (8-8) retired 11 consecutive batters at one point and had a two-hit shutout through six innings, but he was charged with three unearned runs after second baseman Chase Utley’s error in the seventh. Anderson has beaten the Reds for his last two victories, taking this rematch of an 8-3 win over Holmberg in Los Angeles on Aug.15.
With Pedro Villarreal’s stellar 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief keeping the Reds in position to pressure the Dodgers’ bullpen, Cincinnati scored in the eighth inning on Brandon Phillips’ RBI single off Juan Nicasio, but Luis Avilan struck out Jay Bruce with runners in scoring position for the second consecutive night to preserve the lead. Kenley Jansen earned the save.
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