Dodgers starter Noah Syndergaard will hit the bottom of the second inning Wednesday night against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati. Once again, Syndergaard allowed six runs on seven hits in three innings, and the Dodgers lost 8-6. (Photo credit: Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

CINCINNATI — It’s unclear if Noah Syndergaard made his last start in a Dodgers uniform, but he has started 12 games this season and has been consistently underperforming, with Wednesday night being an exception. It wasn’t.

Syndergaard allowed 7 hits and 6 runs (all earned runs) in three innings against the Cincinnati Reds, and was eliminated 8-6 after Will Benson hit a walk-off home run in the ninth inning. The explosion extended the Dodgers’ losing streak to a season-high four games, the longest since May 2022. The Dodgers haven’t lost five straight since April 2019.

Syndergaard has been ticking the clock to prove himself for some time, but Julio Urias is expected to return to the rotation on Sunday, with young arms Bobby Miller and Michael Grove among the favorites. Proving to be a viable option, his time may surely be running out.

“He’s been through it. He’s been through it all year,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s not because of a lack of effort, preparation or care…but it’s just not working. There’s something in that blister. I had a broken nail tonight.” He understands that it’s a performance issue.”

On Wednesday, Syndergaard allowed two home runs. Among them were a 114.8 mph bat in the first inning over Reds rookie Ellie Delacruz and a tying 458-foot rocket that landed in the back row of the right field stands at Great American Ball Park. rice field. The score is 2-2.

“My first thought was that the ball had disappeared,” de la Cruz said through an interpreter. “I didn’t know where I fell. I was looking at my teammates. They said they were about to leave the building.”

One of the most hitter-friendly ballparks in MLB, Syndergaard has always had trouble. The Dodgers have scored at least five points in eight starts, but have just one game left with a 7.16 ERA. He allowed five or more goals in three consecutive starts.

Dela Cruz certainly wasn’t fooled by what he saw from his right arm. Taking home a 92 mph fastball in the first inning, the 21-year-old Dominican hit a curveball triple in the third inning that landed four hops into the right-center wall. He reached third base in 10.83 seconds, according to Statcast, the fastest time in the major leagues this season.

“We’re going to sit with him and try to figure it out. Obviously, we can’t continue this pace of performance,” said Roberts, who was named an All-Star early in his career with the New York Mets and won the Dodgers and 1 He spoke of Syndergaard, who has a 1-4 record since signing his $13 million a year deal. . “There may be an opportunity to give him a reset to fix this issue.”

The Dodgers’ starting pitchers certainly didn’t do the bullpen any favors as they began their six-game trip.

On Tuesday, the Dodgers scored three in the first inning and Tony Gonsolin hit back quickly in the back of the inning, lasting just five innings. On Wednesday, the Dodgers scored two runs in the first inning with a home run by Mookie Betts and an RBI by Max Muncy, but Manager Syndergaard allowed a two-run homer to Dela Cruz in the bottom of the inning.

In the second inning, a homer by Miguel Vargas gave the Dodgers a 3–2 lead, and Will Smith added a two-run homer in the third, including an RBI double by Vargas. The Reds closed the four-run lead with two triples in the bottom of the third, a sacrifice fly by Jonathan India, an RBI single by Spencer Steer, and a two-run homer by Tyler Stevenson.

“You concede the lead. Taking the lead again and then giving it up takes a toll on the offense,” Roberts said. “We just couldn’t get over it.”

After Syndergaard left, four Dodgers relief pitchers kept five scoreless innings, and Nick Robertson pitched a perfect second inning in his major league debut to keep the tie 6-6 through eight games. . The right-hander threw three strikes for the call past first batter Dela Cruz, starting in the fifth inning and finishing with three strikeouts.

In the 9th inning, TJ Hopkins hit an infield hit, and Benson hit a home run off of Evan Phillips (1-2), giving Cincinnati a walk-off win for the second consecutive year and a third straight victory. Benson became the third Cincinnati player to walk away with a first home run after Jay Bruce on May 31, 2008 and Drew Stubbs on August 20, 2009.

“I thought the people in the pen did a really great job,” Roberts said. “Evan made a mistake pitching, but it’s not easy for him to cover six innings. I think he did it well tonight.”

Deluca’s debut

Former Agoura High School outfielder Johnny DeLuca, who was selected by the Dodgers in the 25th round of the 2019 draft, started in center field with no hits, including one walk, in his debut.

trainer room

Right-handed reliever Daniel Hudson, who has left knee surgery, started his minor league rehabilitation duties Tuesday after posting a perfect inning for the Dodgers of the Arizona Complex League. Manager Dave Roberts said he still has a few weeks out. …outfielder Trace Thompson will be out in “30 days” with a grade II or grade III oblique strain. He is in rehab in Arizona. …infielder Miguel Rojas exits with a strained neck.

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Dodgers (lefty Clayton Kershaw, 7-4, 3.25 ERA) vs. Reds (righty Graham Ashcraft, 3-4, 6.64 ERA) Thursday, 9:35 a.m. PT Sportsnet Los Angeles, 5:70 am