Dodgers avoid season series sweep

CINCINNATI — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts didn’t breathe a sigh of relief. He could have.

Yasmani Grandal and Justin Turner drove in three runs each, and the Dodgers beat the Reds 8-1 on Wednesday to avoid being swept in the series.

Joc Pederson homered for the Dodgers, and Grandal had three hits.

“We can beat them,” Roberts said.

The Dodgers began the day 1 games behind NL West-leading Rockies and pulled within two games of the Cardinals for the second NL wild card after the Cardinals lost to the Pirates 4-3.

The Dodgers open a fourgame series in St. Louis on Thursday.

“That’s a big series for us,” said Grandal, who finished with three hits. “There’s a chance to make some moves in this series.”

The Dodgers had been 0-6 against the Reds and were on the verge of being swept by them in a season for the first time.

“It’s more important that we got a win,” Roberts said. “Those guys have been making noise all year. Getting a win with where we were at is a good thing.”

The Reds’ Scooter Gennett went 1-for-4, keeping his leagueleading batting average at .321.

“We didn’t really worry about sweeping the Dodgers,” Reds interim manager Jim Riggleman said. “We just wanted to win the game at hand.”

Left-hander Caleb Ferguson (6-2), the third of seven Dodgers pitchers, struck out three in the fifth.

Anthony DeSclafani (7-5) retired the first nine Dodgers batters before allowing six runs — five earned — five hits and three walks in 42⁄3 innings. He failed to last five innings for the third straight start.