Cincinnati Reds second baseman Sal Stewart (84) hits a homer in the eighth inning of a Cactus League game between the Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Ariz. Reds won 8-1. / Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

One of the few things cooler than going an entire season without being swept is simply not losing the first two games of a series to thereby beg the question. Alas, here we find the Cincinnati Reds, losers of the first two games of their series in Dodger Stadium,

The Dodgers are winners in three straight games, while the Reds are now 1-6 over the past seven games. Los Angeles goes for the sweep after 7-0 and 6-3 victories over Cincy. The Dodgers moved to 4-1 over the Reds this year and continued their climb toward the NL West crown.

The Reds were trailing 2-1 in the sixth inning of Tuesday's game against the Dodgers. What happened next was truly mind-boggling. With two runners on and nobody out, Noelvi Marte, who has been Cincinnati's hottest hitter,

This story was excerpted from Mark Sheldon's Reds Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Clayton Kershaw pitched five innings of one-run ball, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 6-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

On Sunday, he had two more hits, including a Little League home run that tied the game in the sixth inning. However, he's doing the little things that seem to be impressing Reds manager Terry Francona, who recently moved him up to second in the order. "Marte had a big hit and better base running," Francona said.