Schebler's 3-run jack keys Reds' comeback

LOS ANGELES -- Scott Schebler gave the Dodgers a reminder of what they are missing, hitting a go-ahead three-run home run in the sixth inning Saturday during the Reds' 5-3 victory.
Traded from the Dodgers to the Reds in a three-team deal after the 2015 season that also included the Chicago White Sox, Schebler now has 43 home runs as a member of the Reds, including 30 last season.
Schebler, who grew up playing with Corey Seager in the Dodgers' system, didn't exactly call his home run "revenge" on the Dodgers for trading him, but he did admit that it felt good to show everybody that he is doing just fine in his new home.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to come in here and prove myself to a team … that didn't see me as part of their plan," Schebler said. "It feels nice to come in and prove myself. It's nothing against the organization. I wanted to be a part of their plan and then got traded over, but I'm happy with where I am."
Schebler showed the kind of long-ball offense the Dodgers could use these days as they entered Saturday's game with 33 home runs, second worst in the NL and fourth worst in baseball. This is after a season when the Dodgers clubbed a franchise-record 221 home runs.
Schebler's home run was his second at Dodger Stadium as a member of the Reds, after hitting one last season. His third career home run also came in L.A. in 2015, but that one was as a member of the Dodgers.
The Reds pushed their win streak to five games, all since Matt Harvey was acquired via trade from the Mets on Tuesday. The Reds had not won more than two consecutive games before the current win streak started.
"Hats off to our pitchers for keeping us in ballgames," Schebler said. "I feel that's the thing that has been happening to us lately, is we're in ballgames so we allow our offense to not have to score four runs every inning. The pitching staff has been great. The bullpen has been lights out."
Reds starter Homer Bailey (1-5) worked his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, and left five runners aboard over the first two frames while giving up three runs on 10 hits over five innings.

And while he wasn't about to proclaim himself an escape artist, avoiding that question at least three times, he is now officially part of a win streak, even though he downplayed his role.
"I'm not going to sit here and say I played very well, but our offense tonight and bullpen, like they have been doing all year, was outstanding," Bailey said. "It was really a good team effort to be able to pick up this win and win this series."
Cody Bellinger hit a third-inning home run for the Dodgers, his fifth of the season and first since May 1. The Dodgers had a 3-1 lead in the sixth when Schebler went deep off reliever JT Chargois (1-1). Alex Blandino added a pinch-hit RBI double for the Reds later in the inning, his first career double and first career pinch-hit.

The Reds' bullpen closed out the victory with four scoreless innings, 2 1/3 of which came from right-hander David Hernandez. Jared Hughes recorded the last five outs for his first save, as closer Raisel Iglesias had the night off after pitching in three consecutive games and four of the last five.

"Any time you have a chance to end a game for a win is awesome, no matter what the lead is," Hughes said. "But at the same time, you have to treat it like always and for me, that's forcing contact and trusting the defense. Our defense did outstanding. They made some awesome plays."
MOMENT THAT MATTERED
Talk about some efficient relief pitching. Hughes threw one pitch in the eighth inning and recorded two outs, getting pinch-hitter Yasiel Puig to line into a double play.

Puig was the Dodgers' third consecutive pinch-hitter in the inning, following Yasmani Grandal who walked and Kyle Farmer who singled. Hughes picked up the save by pitching a scoreless ninth.
SOUND SMART
Scooter Gennett went 3-for-5 and is now 10-for-14 in the series against the Dodgers, with the finale on Sunday. It was Gennett's third consecutive game of three or more hits and his 13th multi-hit game of the season. He grounded into a force out in his final at-bat, missing a chance to tie a franchise record of home runs in five consecutive games.
HE SAID IT
"I didn't think it was [a home run]. I've played here enough to know that when the marine layer comes in, you have to really catch one. I caught it, but I didn't catch it, catch it. I just saw Joc [Pederson] go back and I was like, 'Oh man, keep going, keep going, keep going.' Once I saw him jump against the fence and the ball bounce up, I was pretty relieved, for sure." -- Schebler, on his home run just clearing the wall in left field
UP NEXT
Luis Castillo (2-4, 6.47 ERA) will take the mound for the Reds on Sunday, coming off his second victory of the season Tuesday against the Mets when he retired the first 14 batters he faced. The right-hander has given up just two earned runs in each of his two May starts. The Dodgers will counter with left-hander Rich Hill (1-1, 7.11).