De La Cruz homers and Lodolo strikes out 11 in a combined 4-hitter as the Reds beat Padres 5-2

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Elly De La Cruz's 443-foot home run into the bullpen sent a few Padres relievers scrambling out of the way, and Nick Lodolo combined with two relievers on a four-hitter and struck out 11 as the Cincinnati Reds beat San Diego 5-2 on Monday night.

The Reds retired 23 straight batters from the second inning into the ninth and had a combined one-hitter going into the final frame.

Lodolo (3-0) retired his final 18 batters after issuing consecutive walks to open the second inning. Fernando Cruz pitched a perfect eighth and Alex Díaz retired the first two batters of the ninth before Jake Cronenworth doubled and scored on Manny Machado's single. Xander Bogaerts singled before Ha-Seong Kim struck out.

If Cronenworth hadn't gotten the hit, it would have been the first time in Padres history that a leadoff homer was their only hit.

“It felt good. I definitely got synced up there, especially after that second inning,” Lodolo said. “It's pretty good.”

Lodolo was making his fourth start of the season. He missed the last 4 1/2 months of last season with a stress reaction in his left tibia.

“It's just about me getting in rhythm,” he said. “I've done a lot of stuff to put me in a good spot to succeed. I feel confident and overall my work leading into a start now is a lot better than it used to be.”

The Padres have lost a season-high five games, a streak that started Thursday when they blew a 9-4 lead in the eighth inning at Colorado and lost 10-9. They were swept during the weekend by the Philadelphia Phillies, who hit nine home runs.

De La Cruz got this series going with an impressive homer with one out in the first. Knuckleballer Matt Waldron (1-3) struck out Will Benson on three pitches and got ahead of De La Cruz at 0-2. Batting lefty against the righty, the 22-year-old star drove a 91 mph sinker to left-center, where it bounced out of the Padres' bullpen and flew over the Reds' bullpen to a row of seats at the back of the ballpark.

With eight homers and 17 stolen bases in April, De La Cruz became the sixth player since at least 1901 to record seven homers and 15 steals in a calendar month.

The Padres tied it on Jurickson Profar's leadoff homer, his fourth. But the Reds regained the lead in the second on a single, a double, Santiago Espinal's sacrifice fly and Waldron's balk. Benson hit a leadoff double in the third and scored on Spencer Steer's one-out double.

Lodolo walked Xander Bogaerts and Ha-Seong Kim opening the second, but then struck out the side. He then cruised through five perfect innings.

“He was outstanding. Give him a lot of credit. He has such a good feel for how his body works,” said manager David Bell, who added that pitching coach Derek Johnson noticed something early. “Nick was able to make the adjustment on the fly. It says a lot about his level of confidence and understanding in what he needs to do to be successful. After that, it was just great. Great fastball, started with that. Used his changeup, really good curveball. Just a great mix of pitches.”

Waldron allowed six runs and four hits in six innings, struck out four and walked none.

UP NEXT

Reds RHP Nick Martinez (0-1, 5.48 ERA) is scheduled to start Tuesday night against his former team. The Padres will activate RHP Yu Darvish (0-1, 4.18) from the injured list to make his first start since April 14. He was placed on the injured list with neck tightness on April 17.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

San Diego Padres' Jurickson Profar, left, celebrates with teammate Fernando Tatis Jr. after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Monday, April 29, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

San Diego Padres' Jurickson Profar celebrates after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Monday, April 29, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo works against a San Diego Padres batter during the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, April 29, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz, left, celebrates with teammate Spencer Steer after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Monday, April 29, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz, right, celebrates with third base coach J.R. House (56) after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Monday, April 29, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz celebrates after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Monday, April 29, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Freddie Freeman's grand slam keyed a six-run third inning, Yoshinobu Yamamoto had a strong start and the Los Angeles Dodgers extended their winning streak to four with a 6-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night.

Freeman’s blast off Slade Cecconi (1-4) was part of an onslaught where the first six Dodgers got aboard and scored in the third.

Kiké Hernández and Will Smith also went deep in the inning as Los Angeles improved to 33-17. It is the ninth time in franchise history the Dodgers have at least 33 wins after 50 games.

Arizona's Ketel Marte extended his hitting streak to 19 games with a single in the first inning. It is the longest run in the majors this season and tied for fifth-longest in franchise history.

Kyle Newman added three hits, his fifth multi-hit effort in the last nine games. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Jake McCarthy homered but the Diamondbacks have dropped four of six.

Yamamoto (5-1) allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out eight in 6 1/3 innings. He threw a season-high 100 pitches, including 69 strikes.

Daniel Hudson retired the side in the ninth for his third save in five opportunities.

It was the sixth grand slam in Freeman's career and his third since the start of last season. He is one of seven players with three over the past two seasons.

The Dodgers are the only team in the majors with two players with at least three grand slams since the start of 2023. Max Muncy leads the team with four.

It didn't take the Dodgers long to respond after the Diamondbacks opened the scoring on Joc Pederson's RBI base hit to center.

Hernández led off the inning with a drive to center to tie it at 1-all. Miguel Rojas and Mookie Betts followed with singles before Shohei Ohtani drew a walk to load the bases.

Freeman then got hold of Cecconi's fastball that was low in the strike zone and put it over the wall in right-center for his fifth homer of the year. It also was the third grand slam this season for the Dodgers.

Five pitches later, Smith added a solo shot to left-center, marking the second time this season the Dodgers have had back-to-back homers.

Yamamoto's night ended when Newman's RBI base hit up the middle to bring Arizona within 6-2.

Gurriel Jr. and McCarthy's solo shots in the eighth were the second time the Diamondbacks have hit back-to-back homers this season.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Diamondbacks: OF Alek Thomas (strained left hamstring) has started pool running and taking live at-bats.

Dodgers: RHP Evan Phillips (right hamstring strain) is expected to have a two- to three-game rehab assignment sometime this week. ... RHP Bobby Miller (right shoulder inflammation) will throw a three-inning simulated game Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Arizona RHP Brandon Pfaadt (1-3, 4.17 ERA) takes on Los Angeles RHP Gavin Stone (4-1, 3.27 ERA) in Tuesday's middle game of the series.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Los Angeles Sparks' Cameron Brink, left, and Rickea Jackson, right, throw the ceremonial first pitches before a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday, May 20, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Joe Mantiply throws to a Los Angeles Dodgers batter during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, May 20, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Kevin Newman, left, throws over Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, right, to compete a double play after a ground ball hit by Dodgers' Freddie Freeman during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, May 20, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto follows through to an Arizona Diamondbacks batter during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, May 20, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. makes a sliding catch on a fly ball hit by Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, May 20, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, left, is safe at first base on a bunt single past Arizona Diamondbacks first base Christian Walker, right, during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, May 20, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto points to the home plate umpire during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday, May 20, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Kiké Hernández, left, celebrates after his solo home run with Teoscar Hernández during the third inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday, May 20, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Kevin Newman, right, scores past Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith, left, on a single by Diamondbacks' Joc Pederson during the third inning of a baseball game Monday, May 20, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman watches his grand slam during the third inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday, May 20, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman (5) celebrates after his grand slam with teammate Shohei Ohtani (17) during the third inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday, May 20, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)