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DODGERS 6, REDS 2

Reds swept; losing streak at Dodger Stadium hits 12

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By Hal McCoy, Staff Writer Updated 3:38 AM Thursday, July 23, 2009

LOS ANGELES — One can't call it a Baker's Dozen because manager Dusty Baker has lost only six of them, a half dozen — 0-6 in two years.

The Cincinnati Reds, though, made it an even dozen, 12 straight defeats in Dodger Stadium over the last four seasons after Wednesday's 6-2 defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

And it was pure unadulterated Hollywood.

Manny Ramirez was not in the Dodgers' lineup (sore hand), but the lure of his bobblehead drew a full house of 56,000. And the place went into delirium when he was announced as a pinch-hitter in the sixth with the bases loaded, one out and the score tied, 2-2.

Nick Masset replaced starter Bronson Arroyo and Masset's first pitch to Ramirez was last seen spiraling toward San Luis Opisbo, a grand slam home run and the noise in Dodger Stadium was like five 747s landing simultaneously at LAX.

It actually landed in a section in the left field seats called Mannywood, in his honor, and it was his 21st grand slam, two behind all-time leader Lou Gehrig.

"I would have liked to have faced him," said Arroyo. "I played with him long enough (on the Boston Red Sox) that I probably have a better insight into his mind than anybody else here. That's Dusty's call, his job, not mine."

Said Baker, "I had my best double play guy (Masset) in there to get a ground ball. His sinker didn't sink. Arroyo had just walked two and given up a rocket (single to Russell Martin)."

Baker paused to shake his head and said, "That's stuff I used to see out of Barry Bonds and Hank Aaron. That's about as dramatic as it gets — a grand slam on one pitch on your bobblehead night."

Masset said he put the ball in the right area, "But it didn't sink the way it normally does and it was middle-in. I was trying to jam him, get a ground ball, get out of the inning.

"Bronson pitched a good game and it was my job to come in and execute and get the job done. I failed."

Ramirez didn't fail. It was his first career pinch-hit home run.

"It was one of the best moments in my career," said Ramirez. "It was kind of crazy, but I loved it. Before I hit, I watched some video of myself, trying to find myself. I think I did it."

Arroyo has seen Ramirez do this stuff over and over and over.

"He's unbelievable," said Arroyo. "For as many times as he doesn't win the battle, it seems like in situations like that he gets it done about 70 percent of the time. He's like Albert Pujols. You never want to see those guys up with two on in a game-deciding situation.

"Sometimes he can be patient and other times he comes out and hits the first pitch, a 95 miles an hour sinker, out of the park."

As usual the Reds' wounds were self-inflicted.

Andre Ethier homered off Arroyo in the first and a run scored in the second when left fielder Laynce Nix tried for a shoe-top catch and the ball hippety-hopped past him for a triple.

Jerry Hairston Jr. led the fifth with a double when the Dodgers led, 2-1, and was thrown out trying to steal third with no outs.

"If you're going to try to steal third with no outs, you better make it," said Baker, revealing that Hairston ran on his own.

The Reds had runners on first and second with no outs in the fifth andl Arroyo couldn't get a bunt down, popping it to the catcher. The Reds ended up scoring only one run and that was on a wild pitch.

"We made some mistakes, a lot of mistakes, and you can't do that against a club like this," said Baker.

Centerfielder Willy Taveras went above the wall to rob Casey Blake of a home run to start the sixth, then Arroyo walked two and gave up the single to Martin.

Up came Ramirez, in came Masset, out went the baseball.

The Reds are a season's worst six games under .500 (44-50), b but remain 5 ½ games behind division-leading St. Louis, but the Cardinals lead the Chicago Cubs and Houston by one game and Milwaukee by two.

And last-place Pittsburgh is only two games behind the Reds as they head for Chicago and a three-game weekend series.

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I guess all Reds fans are gluttons for punishment.I watched Texas prior to last nite's game.They were disclipled hitters;not like Phillips and EE. Both had a bats they were as bad as you can have. DUSTY, they stole 6 of 6; had a beautiful suicide squeeze and several hit/runs. This is a team who scores lots of runs, not like the Reds.The steals were against Varitek, but we have poor catchers in our league as well. Baseball is a beautiful game when the Reds are not screwing it up.Please fire Dusty

bob
5:38 PM, 7/23/2009

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Ha ha ha! I read the headline "Reds swept" and for a quick second thought it said REDS s u c k !

BrarHopper
2:45 PM, 7/23/2009

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The Reds have talent -- have had talent in years past -- just not enough. But if they don't compete on payroll, then they can't compete. I'm tired of seeing the Reds send talent away to get talent. They need to keep the talent they have and spend money on free agents to fill holes. Unless they do that, they are just spinning wheels.

Bob540
12:50 PM, 7/23/2009

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Please, please, please...find a way to get rid of Baker! Also, by some miracle, dump Arroyo, Harang, E5, Taveras, Weathers, Rhodes, Cordero. These guys are over half of next year's salary. The Reds will not be able to improve, with their current budget, if they keep these cash cows.

Shane
11:36 AM, 7/23/2009

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So let me understand this. Manny's bobblehead night was last night, he didn't start, and had a pinch-hit slam? Hilarious!

Scott
11:08 AM, 7/23/2009

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