Latos Strong Start Leads Reds Past Dodgers.

So far in this three cities, ten day, eleven game road trip the Cincinnati Reds have started out playing very well as they were able to

Jul 25, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Mat Latos (55) pitches in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

stop the hot Los Angeles Dodgers team thanks to great pitching and timely hitting as the Reds take game one of the four game series 5-2 on Thursday night in Dodger Stadium in California.

This was viewed as a pitching duel between Reds Mat Latos and Dodgers Zach Greinke on this night Latos got the better of him in this battle. The offense wasted no time getting in front of Greinke, Xavier Paul second batter of the game homered to deep right field estimated at 414 feet to give the Reds a early 1-0 lead.

In the second inning Todd Frazier continues his hot hitting since the all star break with a one out double to left then with two outs Cesar Izturis singled him home to make it 2-0.

Latos was sharp through the first three innings retiring the first 9 of 10 batters he faced. In the bottom of fourth Dodgers finally got to him Yasiel Puig single to center advanced to third as Shin-Soo Choo airmail a throw to first that went to the dugout for an error. Adrian Gonzalez grounded out to second allowing Puig to score to make it 2-1.

In the sixth inning with two outs Greinke hits Brandon Philllps and it will cost him as Jay Bruce hit his 21st homerun to swallow centerfield two run shot and a huge play in the game to give the Reds a 4-1 lead.

Latos pitched the bottom of the eight inning as he was nearing 100 pitches allowed a lead off double to Carl Crawford advanced to third on a Puig ground out. Gonzalez grounded out to first bringing the runner home to make it 4-2. Latos needed one more out to complete eight innings but allowed a single to Hanley Ramirez letting Dusty to go get him and bring in Manny Parra to face Andre Either as he got him to lined out to second to end the inning.

Latos final line was 7 2/3 strong innings pitched, eight hits allowed, one earned run, one walk and four strikeouts getting his 10th win of the season. Reds added an insurance run in the top of ninth as Shin Soo-Choo singled to center for a RBI to make it 5-2 and gave them breathing room.

Aroldis Chapman came in the ninth looking to save it made it interesting got a strikeout for the first out then allowed a single, then a strikeout, he walked a pinch hitter but was able to get Crawford to lined  out to left to end the game to preserve the save his 24th of the season.

The win improves the Reds to 4-1 on the west coast road trip and move them to fifteen games over .500 (59-44) and are 6-2 since the all star break. Tonight will be another good pitching matchup as the Reds will send out Homer Bailey looking for his first win since throwing a no hitter 23 days ago and the Dodgers will counter with their ace and probably the best pitcher in baseball in left hander Clayton Kershaw. First pitch is at 10:10pm.