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CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Johnny Cueto was striking out batters. Ndamukong Suh Lions Authentic Jersey . Joey Votto and Jay Bruce were driving in runs. For one night, the Cincinnati Reds felt like themselves. It hasnt happened that often this season. Cueto matched his career high with 12 strikeouts in six innings, and Votto and Bruce -- the missing core of Cincinnatis batting order much of the season -- each drove in runs Wednesday night, leading the Reds to a 5-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Cueto (6-5) followed his shortest start of the season with one of his most dominating. He gave up three singles and didnt walk a batter, leaving after his 112th pitch. Cueto lasted only five innings during an 8-0 loss to Philadelphia on Friday. The Dodgers fouled off a lot of pitches, quickly elevating Cuetos pitch count. He lobbied for one more inning but manager Bryan Price decided hed had enough. "Thats the way it was," Cueto said, with trainer Tomas Vera translating. "I wasnt trying to strike everybody out, but they made me throw a lot of pitches." Jonathan Broxton escaped a bases-loaded, one-out threat in the seventh by getting Hanley Ramirez to ground into a double play. "All were trying to do down there is get the outs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings and let (closer Aroldis Chapman) have the spotlight," Broxton said. "Thats been working most of the year." Votto doubled home a pair of runs off Hyun-Jin Ryu (7-3), who had won his last four starts. Votto hadnt driven in a run since May 10, missing 23 games in between because of a strained muscle above his left knee. Bruce missed two weeks following knee surgery. He hit a solo homer off Ryu, who gave up four runs in six innings. The Reds are hoping that with Votto and Bruce back in the lineup, they can get a lot more out of an offence that ranks second to last in the majors in runs scored. "We have a history here," Price said. "We have a real good understanding that we have players who have accomplished things at a high level here. You saw some of that tonight. Hopefully, itll be a precursor to good things." The loss snapped the Dodgers three-game winning streak, which matched their season high. Theyre 4-2 on a trip that concludes Thursday and 22-13 overall on the road. Dodgers left fielder Matt Kemp was ejected in the second inning by plate umpire Seth Buckminster, a minor league umpire brought up to the majors. Kemp was called out on strikes and continued to argue from the dugout. It was Kemps eighth career ejection and his second this season. Kemp was ejected by Angel Hernandez on April 26 for arguing a called third strike. Cueto faced the minimum 15 batters through five innings -- Dee Gordon singled but was picked off. He also fanned 10 over that span, including five in a row while getting up to 90 pitches. The Dodgers got a pair of singles in the sixth, but Ryu failed to get down a bunt to advance them. Ryu had won his first five decisions on the road this season. When he faced the Reds on May 26 at Dodger Stadium, he took a perfect game into the eighth before settling for a 4-3 victory. He helped the Reds get ahead in the rematch. Ryu walked two batters ahead of Vottos two-out double in the second. Votto scored on Brandon Phillips single. Bruce homered in the sixth for a 4-0 lead. NOTES: Zack Greinke (8-2) faces Alfredo Simon (8-3) in the final game of the series on Thursday afternoon. The Reds are 4-5 on their homestand. ... Ramirez was a late scratch because of a sore shoulder but pinch hit in the seventh and hit into the double play. ... RHP Chad Billingsley, who had reconstructive elbow surgery last year, didnt feel right while throwing in the bullpen on Tuesday and has put his rehab on hold until the elbow can be examined. ... RF Yasiel Puig visited the Cincinnati Zoo and tweeted photos and video of himself with elephants, polar bears and a snake. ... The Reds wore camouflage jerseys and hats honouring the military. ... SS Zack Cozart has a six-game hitting streak. Nick Fairley Jersey . Louis Cardinals 5-3 on Friday night and tightened the top of the NL Central. The Reds moved within three games of the second-place Cardinals, who have won seven of their last nine games while staying right behind the division-leading Brewers. Calvin Johnson Lions Authentic Jersey . -- Michael Phelps has competed in the second event of his comeback and failed to advance to the 50-meter freestyle final. ABERDEEN -- Rory McIlroy surrendered the lead at the Scottish Open with his latest second-round meltdown on Friday, leaving three players tied for first place on a day when brutal winds played havoc with the field. Kristoffer Broberg of Sweden, Argentinas Ricardo Gonzalez and Marc Warren of Scotland were atop the leaderboard on 6 under, with just 17 of 150 players shooting below 70 on the par-71 Royal Aberdeen links course. McIlroy shot a course-record 64 in the first round but followed it up with a 78, continuing a worrying trend this season that has seen the former world No. 1 fail to build on strong starts. "Having to talk about it, its always being brought up, its sort of in your mind," a frustrated McIlroy said. Justin Rose shrugged off the effects of hayfever to sign for a 68 and was alone in fourth place, a shot behind the trio of leaders. Defending champion Phil Mickelson was among the afternoon starters who had to deal with a punishing breeze, especially on the back nine. A 73, which left him at 1 under, was something of an achievement but left him "mentally drained" just a week before the defence of his British Open title. "Im a little concerned that its taking up a little bit more energy than Id like ahead of next week," Mickelson said. "But its also a good opportunity to focus on the more difficult shots that well have next week. So it kind of goes both ways." Englishmen Lee Westwood (73 for 3 over) and Ian Poulter (74 for 5 over) were the high-profile names to miss the cut. McIlroys brilliant first round suggested the Northern Irishman had turned the corner in his bid to conquer the links but he looked a disgruntled, beaten man after he came off the 18th green. Over the same seven-hole stretch (Nos. 8-14) where he piccked up six shots on Thursday, McIlroy dropped six shots -- including a double-bogey 7 at the 12th. Stephen Tulloch Jersey. . "It was a grind out there," McIlroy said, "but at the end of the day, its a great way to prepare for next week, if nothing else." Gonzalez headed out in the next-to-last group and led by two shots on 8 under at the turn. He held himself together through the tough back nine until the last hole, when he made a double-bogey 6 after being forced to take a penalty shot for sending his drive into a gorse bush. A 71 dropped Gonzalez back into a tie with Broberg (71) and Warren (69), who is leading the Scottish charge and looking to make amends for blowing a three-shot lead with four to play at the Scottish Open in 2012. "What happened two years ago was tough to take at the time but hopefully it stands me in good stead," Warren said. "It would be a romantic tale." After admitting to needing an "adjustment period" to fully digest winning his first major at the U.S. Open at Merion in 2013, Rose returned to the winners circle after more than a year at the Quicken Loans National in June. That has given him some self-belief heading into the British Open -- and so will a solid start in northern Scotland, despite struggling with hayfever for the last 12 days. Rose rolled in three birdies on the benign front nine and held on grimly coming back in. "I came off a victory (on the U.S. PGA Tour) and didnt do much practice for whatever reason last week, so I came here and felt absolutely horrendous," Rose said. "The last couple of days I have been trying to find my feel again. "I am beginning to click back into gear again and see some good shots." Paul Waring of England shot a 66 for the lowest score of the day. ' ' ' |
