The Los Angeles Dodgers waited one week to play their 2022 opener at Dodger Stadium, and they quickly took a lead against the Cincinnati Reds but needed late-game heroics from Freddie Freeman and Trea Turner in order to pull away for a 9-3 win.
Luis Cessa’s time as an opener did not pan out well for the Reds as the Dodgers strung together five consecutive singles in the first inning. After base hits by Freeman and Turner put runners at the corners, Justin Turner’s RBI flare single gave L.A. a lead.
Max Muncy added to that with his own RBI base hit, and Will Smith’s chopper got past Kyle Farmer for an infield single that brought in another run. The Dodgers’ rally came to an abrupt end when Chris Taylor grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Walker Buehler nearly coughed up some of the 3-0 lead in the second inning but managed to escape a bases-loaded jam unscathed. Buehler proceeded to strand two more runners in the third and carried the 3-0 lead into the sixth inning.
He was one pitch away from keeping the Reds scoreless and likely calling it a night but surrendered a two-run home run to Aristides Aquino. Buehler’s second career start in a Dodgers home opener came to an end at that point.
Reiver Sanmartin allowed just two singles after entering the game in the second inning, which allowed the Reds to steadily chip away at their deficit. Although Price managed to finish the inning after taking over for Buehler, he surrendered a game-tying solo home run to Brandon Drury in the seventh.
Drury entered the game for Jonathan India, who went 2-for-3 against Buehler prior to exiting with a right hamstring injury.
Making his home debut with a suite full of family members in attendance, Freeman sparked a rally in the eighth inning with a leadoff ground-rule double. Trea Turner followed that with a go-ahead RBI single, and Will Smith punctuated the inning with a three-run homer.
Taylor later scored on a wild pitch and Mookie Betts added an RBI single before the Reds could get through the inning.
Dodgers fans chant for Freeman
While the Reds went to a pitching change, Freeman was showered with chants of “Freddie! Freddie!” by the sold-out Dodger Stadium crowd. Freeman tipped his helmet to the Dodgers fans, drawing a thunderous applause.
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