LOS ANGELES -- The timing was impeccable for the Reds.
The outcome? Far from it.
A former Dodgers player now with Cincinnati, Gavin Lux received his 2024 World Series championship ring from his former club moments before Monday's 7-0 series-opening loss at Dodger Stadium.
“That’s what we’re all playing for every day," Lux said before the game. "We play 162 and grind it out every day for it. I hope that we can do another one this year. It’s the carrot in front of your face."
Had the Reds been well out of contention, the small ceremony might have served as simply a nice acknowledgement. But with 30 games left in the season just as Cincinnati is competing hard for a playoff spot, the ring is indeed a tangible incentive right in front of them.
“Hopefully, it fires some boys up," said Reds pitcher Nick Martinez, who is scheduled to start on Tuesday. "We can use that energy, right? We could use that drive.”
That boost was not there vs. Los Angeles, which underscored that much work remains for the Reds to get where they want to go. The club notched only three hits in the game, including two against Dodgers starter Emmet Sheehan as he struck out 10 over his seven innings.
“I thought we hit some balls pretty good. We had nothing to show for it," manager Terry Francona said.
The Reds (68-64) have now lost four of their last five games. Combined with a Mets win over the Phillies, Cincinnati dropped to 2 1/2 games back for the final National League Wild Card spot.
The Reds have not made the playoffs following a full season since 2013 and haven't advanced in a postseason round since 1995.
Most of the Reds’ players and staff were in the dugout to see Lux get his ring and a gold jersey from many of his former Dodgers teammates.
“Luxie has been here [for] part of one year, but he’s made quite an impression and he’s a really good teammate," Francona said. “You’ll see a lot of guys in our dugout really, really happy for him, myself included.”
Lux, who had 85 playoff plate appearances for the Dodgers from 2019-24, had an eighth-inning sacrifice fly in the deciding Game 5 of the World Series that tied it up before Mookie Betts drove in the winning run.
"He helped us win a championship. I’m always going to be grateful," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
Acquired from Los Angeles in a Jan. 7 trade, Lux was sought by the Reds for his veteran experience with postseason baseball. So was catcher Jose Trevino, who came over in a trade from the Yankees -- the team that lost last year's World Series to the Dodgers.
"Him and Trevy are the only guys with World Series experience," Martinez said. "For a team that is trying to get there, words can’t really describe how important it is. You talk about 'Been there, done that,' and what to expect. You can imagine a lot of guys are going to lean on their experience when the time comes.”
Dodger Stadium has long been a tough place for visiting teams because the ballpark packed with fans usually brings playoff energy to regular season games. It was no different on Monday with 49,702 fans in attendance.
“Every night, it felt like that," said Lux, who was 1-for-2 with a double and a walk. "It’s 50,000 [fans] and the music is bumping. A lot of good stuff between innings. It’s a fun place to play. Being on the home side, you still get the feel. It helped a lot. In 162 games, you need a little pick-me-up."
Many fans shrieked during a ceremonial first pitch from V of the K-pop supergroup BTS, adding to the electricity. While the Dodgers had V, the Reds badly needed a “W.”
Reds starter Hunter Greene, a Los Angeles area native, labored during his five-plus innings, which included a pair of home runs allowed to Andy Pages -- a leadoff drive to left field in the third inning and a two-run shot to left field in the fifth.
“I thought maybe he was a little over-amped, but I get it. He made two pitches that cost him three runs -- two breaking balls," Francona said.
Greene, who gave up six hits and two walks with three strikeouts, was knocked out two batters into the sixth inning following a Freddie Freeman double and Will Smith walk. With Scott Barlow in relief, both batters scored when Pages' two-out routine ground ball went through shortstop Elly De La Cruz's legs for his Major League-leading 20th error.