Will Smith's clutch performance leads Dodgers to series win in Cincinnati

CINCINNATI -- Despite striking out 14 times in the game, the Los Angeles Dodgers took a close one against the Reds by a final score of 5-4 that was backed up by the clutch performance of Will Smith and a lockdown outing from the Dodgers bullpen. 

Tyler Glasnow was on the mound for the Dodgers and has been dominant on the mound since his return from the injured list on July 9. In his last 18 innings prior to tonight's start, he has only allowed two earned runs on nine hits while striking out 23 hitters and posting an ERA of one. 

His outing against the Reds would be a bit different, as though he started establishing his footing on the rubber as usual, Cincinnati would jump on Glasnow in the fourth as Jake Fraley would launch a two-run home run to tie the game, and Noelvi Marte would hit a solo home run to give the Reds the lead. 

Glasnow would have a final stat line of four innings pitched, allowing four earned runs on four hits, four walks, and three strikeouts. 

The Reds' southpaw Nick Lodolo was outdueling Glasnow on the mound. After giving up a two-run homer to Tommy Edman in the second, Lodolo would lock in on the mound and proceed to deliver 11 punchouts through 5 1/3 innings, only allowing the two earned runs on six hits and one walk. 

Cincinnati would extend their lead in the bottom of the fifth as Elly De La Cruz would ground out into a force out with the bases loaded that allowed Jose Trevino to score and give the Reds a 4-2 lead. 

Smith's first act of his clutch performance came in the top of the seventh as after a Michael Conforto free pass and Mookie Betts singled, the Dodgers catcher smacked an RBI single on a 2-1 count that allowed Conforto to score from second. 

Freddie Freeman would follow through with an RBI single of his own, which would tie the game 4-4. 

The top of the ninth started with one of the most notable at-bats of the game. Conforto led off the inning, battling against Reds reliever Emilio Pagán, and issued a walk to Conforto on 10 pitches. 

James Outman was tasked with pinch-running duties for Conforto, and with two outs in the Dodgers' half of the ninth, Smith came up again for his second act of his clutch performance. On a 1-1 count, Smith smacked the go-ahead RBI double over the head of Gavin Lux in left field that allowed Outman to score and give the Dodgers the late lead. 

Alex Vesia would come in the ninth and shut down the Reds 1-2-3 to secure the series win by a final of 5-4. Speaking of the bullpen, which consisted of Jack Dreyer, Ben Casparius, Anthony Banda, Alexis Díaz, who earned the win against his old team, and Alex Vesia, the bullpen combined for five scoreless innings on two hits and striking out three Reds. 

With this win, the Dodgers secure the series over the Reds and look for the series sweep tomorrow as Shohei Ohtani toes the rubber and is expected to pitch within the four-inning range.