The Los Angeles Dodgers delivered a decisive blow to the Cincinnati Reds' postseason dreams on Wednesday night, completing a two-game sweep in the National League Wild Card Series with a commanding victory at Dodger Stadium. Final score: Dodgers 7-2 over the Reds, sealing their advancement to the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies. It was a tough end for Terry Francona, the veteran manager who had steered Cincinnati through a gritty regular season, only to see his young squad falter against LA's powerhouse lineup.
Game 2 unfolded with the Dodgers asserting early dominance. Yoshinobu Yamamoto took the mound for Los Angeles and was masterful, tossing 6 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out eight. His performance lowered his career postseason ERA to a sparkling 2.84, a reminder of why the Dodgers invested so heavily in him. The offense, meanwhile, kept the pressure on—Teoscar Hernández and Shohei Ohtani had combined for four homers across the series, and they didn't disappoint here, with Ohtani adding another deep shot that cleared the fences in the fifth.
For the Reds, it was a story of what-ifs. Starter Hunter Greene battled valiantly but surrendered three runs in the fourth, including back-to-back doubles that ignited LA's rally. Elly De La Cruz, the electric shortstop who's dazzled with his speed all year, went 1-for-4 with a single, but his baserunning flair couldn't spark a comeback this time. Indeed, Cincinnati managed only seven hits total, stranding runners in key spots. Francona pulled no punches postgame, praising his team's fight but admitting the execution fell short against a Dodgers club that's been here before.
However, the sweep wasn't without its brighter notes for Cincinnati fans. De La Cruz's presence, even in defeat, hints at the raw talent building under Francona—a mix of youth and savvy that's pushed the Reds to 88 wins this season. Moreover, Greene's stuff remains electric; at 25, he's a cornerstone for years to come. Yet, as the Dodgers celebrate, one can't help but wonder if this early exit will fuel a fiercer Reds push next spring, or expose deeper flaws in the roster.