LOS ANGELES – Walker Buehler pitched six straight innings with seven strikeouts in his third start since returning from Tommy John surgery, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 4-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday night.
Buehler (1-1) surrendered three hits and no walks in a dominant performance to earn his first major league win since May 24, 2022. After looking somewhat shaky and wild in his first two starts following his second Tommy procedure John, the two-time All-Star controlled his pitching against Cincinnati and rediscovered the form he typically showed when healthy during his first six seasons with the Dodgers.
Buehler said he has changed his position on the rubber since his last start and “a lot of things have fallen into place.”
“It was finally fun again,” Buehler said with a smile. “No, it’s good to set one up. … The (speed) wasn’t as good as it was before, not that that was intentional, but I think I was really trying to command, and that’s what happens. I think there’s enough speed to still be very good. I just felt like it finally worked.”
Buehler and his three relievers combined for a three-hitter as the bullpen pitched three perfect innings.
“He’s confident by nature, but I still think when you go out there and do that, it solidifies confidence, especially coming from Tommy John,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
Freddie Freeman had two hits and a run for the Dodgers, who won 18 of 24 games and moved 7 1/2 games ahead of San Diego atop the NL West. Teoscar Hernández and Andy Pages also scored goals for Los Angeles.
“A healthy Walker Buehler is very important to us,” Freeman said. “You can’t say enough about him. I feel for anyone who has experienced injuries like this. It was a long road back for him. Whatever happens in the future, so be it.”
Graham Ashcraft (3-3) surrendered three hits, three walks and three runs in five innings for the Reds, who have lost two in a row and 14 of 17. Cincinnati was eliminated for the fourth time this season.
“They had some good hits on the ball, (but) there was only one ball hit hard the entire game,” Ashcraft said. “Of course, the hiking killed me.”
The Reds lost despite dealing Shohei Ohtani, who went 0 for 4 for the fifth time since joining the Dodgers. Mookie Betts also got his first day of rest of the season for the Dodgers, who had Ohtani leading the way.
Ashcraft held the Dodgers hitless through the first three innings, but walked Freeman and Hernández in the fourth before Pages delivered an RBI single. Hernández then scored on Gavin Lux’s groundout.
“You give them credit,” Cincinnati coach David Bell said. “The (Los Angeles) hitters ended up getting maybe not hit very hard, but at the same time, they put themselves in position to score, getting on base, working out strikes and making things difficult for Graham.
Jake Fraley earned a triple in the fifth when the Dodgers inexplicably left fielder Miguel Vargas cut in front of Pages, causing both outfielders to miss a catchable ball. Buehler calmly got two more outs.
“That’s what I play for, that’s what we all talk about,” Buehler said. “You get to the game and you’re kind of pedestrian and fine, and then you get into a situation like that, and it… brings you back to normal. For me, every time I can do this and be successful is a huge thing, being out for so long.”
Miguel Rojas doubled and scored on Freeman’s single in the fifth. Freeman then doubled and scored on Hernández’s single in the eighth.
Reds outfielder Jacob Hurtubise got his first major league hit with a single in the third inning. The 26-year-old U.S. Military Academy graduate was called up on Monday, becoming the first major league player to use a new waiver policy that allows West Point graduates to defer military service while playing professional sports. .
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw cleared the mound before the game in his latest step in his return from offseason shoulder surgery. He is not expected to begin his 17th season in Los Angeles until July or August. … RHP Bobby Miller (right shoulder) also threw a bullpen session. He hasn’t played since April 13th.
NEXT
Los Angeles native Hunter Greene (2-2, 3.27 ERA) will make the second Dodger Stadium start of his career in Cincinnati. The Dodgers have not announced their starter.
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