Rookie McLain's 1st walk-off hit caps comeback from 5 down

CINCINNATI -- It was Elly Night at Great American Ball Park -- as in Elly De La Cruz, the Reds' No. 1 prospect, who was called up and made his big league debut.

Cruz put on a show, but his teammates did, too.

The Reds got off the mat for a 9-8, walk-off win over the Dodgers before their frenzied fans. Another recently called-up rookie, Matt McLain, hit the game-winner with a bases-loaded single.

The Reds were down 3-0 before their first at-bat of the game and 8-3 after four innings.

"That's who we are and who we have to be if we want to win," McLain said. "We play nine innings, no matter the score -- if we're up 10 or down 10, you've got to keep playing. That's what we're going to do."

Jonathan India, on deck when McLain walked it off, was confident in his teammate.

"You know what? I honestly told some people on deck, I was like, 'He's going to win the game.'" India said. "I wasn't even swinging on deck. I had full faith in Matty to do that. I gave him a scouting report on [Shelby] Miller. He came through in the clutch. It was perfect."

The Reds' future looks bright with a young core and rookies in key roles.

"It's really exciting when you look into the future," McLain said. "But we're here now playing, and we're here to win. It's a good feeling."

Reds manager David Bell thought getting three runs off Dodgers starter Tony Gonsolin (3-1 with a 1.77 ERA coming into the game) in the first inning was key.

"That showed a lot right there," Bell said. "That kept us in the game, and even when we were down 8-3, I think that first inning gave us confidence."

The Reds scored one in the fifth, one in the sixth and one in the seventh, but they were still down 8-6 going into the bottom of the ninth and facing lefty Caleb Ferguson, who came in with a 2.14 ERA.

Spencer Steer led off with a walk. Tyler Stephenson sent Steer to third with a single. An out later, Stuart Fairchild walked to load the bases. Curt Casali walked to force in a run and make it 8-7.

Ferguson then hit Jake Fraley with a pitch to bring in the tying run.

That was it for Ferguson. The Dodgers brought in the right-handed Miller to face McLain.

"One out, infield in, I'm just trying to get something in the middle of the plate and hit it in the air," McLain said.

He did that. He hit a high fly ball that easily cleared center fielder Jason Heyward's glove, and McLain had his first walk-off since Double-A Chattanooga two years ago.

"Exhilarating," Fraley said. "We've got such a good group of guys in here. We just never stop fighting. It's really fun to be part of."