LOS ANGELES -- It's pretty simple for Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Brett Anderson: Keep the ball on the ground, and bad things usually won't happen.
He followed that script to near perfection Saturday night, bouncing back from his worst outing of the season earlier in the week to take the air out of the Cincinnati Reds in the 8-3 victory at Dodger Stadium.
Anderson struck out three and induced 14 ground-ball outs in six innings of work. He came into the game leading the majors in ground-ball percentage (66.1) and only three of the 26 Reds he faced hit the ball in the air, the first a two-run homer by Todd Frazier in the opening inning and the second a run-scoring double by Joey Votto in the third.
How it happened: For the second straight game, the Dodgers' offense benefited from the youth movement within Cincinnati's organization. David Holmberg, who moved into the starting rotation after ace Johnny Cueto was dealt to the Kansas City Royals at last month's trade deadline, made his fourth start this season and things couldn't have gone much worse. He surrendered a leadoff homer to Yasiel Puig in the second inning and a three-run bomb to Enrique Hernandez later in the frame, putting the Dodgers on top 5-2. After yielding another homer, this time to Justin Turner to start the third, followed by back-to-back walks for the second time in the game, Holmberg was done. The rookie left-hander, who came in with 28 walks and 30 strikeouts this season, threw 35 balls and 29 strikes against the Dodgers.
What it means: The Dodgers received back-to-back wins from starters not named Clayton Kershaw or Zack Greinke for just the third time this season and first since June 25-26, when Carlos Frias and Anderson won consecutive outings. Anderson received more run support than he did in his previous three starts combined, and the most since a 10-2 win by the Dodgers on June 21 against the San Francisco Giants.
Notable: The Dodgers hit four home runs through the first four innings, but couldn't muster another, which would have given them five for the first time in nearly two years. They've hit four home runs six times this season, most recently in the June 21 win against the Giants. … Every position player for the Dodgers had scored or driven in a run by the fourth inning. … Dodgers left fielder Carl Crawford went 2-for-2 with two walks and is 9-for-12 in his last seven games.
Up next: Greinke (12-2, 1.59 ERA) is scheduled to take the hill Sunday afternoon for the Dodgers, who will try to win three out of four in the series. He'll be opposed by Anthony DeSclafani (7-7, 3.75), who is 2-0 with a 2.77 ERA in his last four starts with both wins coming against the St. Louis Cardinals, owners of the best overall record in the majors.