LOS ANGELES -- It's been an express route for the Reds going from the cusp of a playoff spot to danger of falling out of contention.
A 6-3 loss to the Dodgers on Tuesday was Cincinnati's fifth in its last six games to put the club 3-5 on its three-city West Coast trip. Meanwhile, the Mets won for the fourth time in their last five games to be 3 1/2 games up on the Reds (68-65) for the third and final National League Wild Card spot.
“I think we’re sharp mentally. We’ve just got to keep going. There’s still a month left and we can hit our groove again," said starting pitcher Nick Martinez, who gave up four earned runs and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings with two walks and three strikeouts.
As recently as Thursday, the Reds trailed the then-sputtering Mets by a half-game. On Aug. 19, Cincinnati was a season-high seven games over .500.
Things certainly have taken a turn since. There are 29 games remaining in the regular season.
“We’re just in a similar spot to where we’ve been all year," said left fielder Austin Hays, who hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning. "We’re just hitting the point where you have to show up tomorrow and play cleaner baseball, play better baseball."
After a good start on the road trip, fielding issues have hurt the team multiple times lately.
Cincinnati led, 1-0, in the first inning when Freddie Freeman hit a double to left field. Hays' throw overshot the cutoff man for an error that allowed Mookie Betts to score. It was his second throwing error in two nights.
"You’ve got to take care of the ball defensively,” Hays said. "I just need to do a better job of that. It’s just a reminder that you’ve got to be more focused … and make sure you take care of the ball on defense so you’re giving yourself the best chance when your pitcher is doing a great job on the mound -- just not giving up an extra 90 feet."
Reds manager Terry Francona employed an all right-handed lineup against lefty great Clayton Kershaw. It meant TJ Friedl got a night off while Noelvi Marte was given his first career start in center field after he had been learning right field in a midseason switch from third base.
In the four-run Dodgers sixth inning, Marte got turned around as he misjudged a Miguel Rojas drive to the wall for a two-run double against reliever Brent Suter.
“It’s a work in progress. If you’re going to criticize someone, I’d rather you criticize me for playing him there," Francona said. "Because I think the kid’s doing a good job. It wasn’t perfect, but I still think there’s a really good outfielder there.”
Martinez, who opened the sixth allowing Will Smith's homer, blamed himself for not doing better.
“I don’t think I did myself any favors," he said. "They saw a lot of pitches throughout the whole game. A team that good, it’s only a matter of time before they start hitting the ball harder.”
After Kershaw finished five innings retiring his final 14 batters in a row, the Reds opened the sixth against reliever Edgardo Henriquez with back-to-back hits. But Marte doomed the rally with a bad bunt attempt. Bunting on his own, he popped it back to Henriquez, who turned a double play.
"We really would rather see him hit one off that scoreboard. He’s a young guy trying to do too much," Francona said.
The Reds, who were shut out 7-0 in the series opener, could use a boost from their best player -- Elly De La Cruz. The shortstop has one homer in his last 54 games since June 23 and none since July 31. Since that last homer, De La Cruz is batting .219 with a .549 OPS.
De La Cruz, who had also committed errors in each of the previous three games, has played all 133 games this season. Francona isn't keen on giving him a day off.
“If I ever felt like he needed it, really, I'd do it," Francona said. "I think he's OK. I think it's too easy when he's not swinging a bat to be like, 'Give a day off.'"
The Reds will need a win in the final game to avoid being swept for the first time in 2025. They've not been swept in any of their 42 series this season, having notched a sole win in the final game eight times.
“We have to come out tomorrow aggressive with a ton of energy and get us a win tomorrow and get us back on track," Hays said.