Reds (1) @ Dodgers (4)

The Dodgers got good news Wednesday night with the return of second baseman Mark Ellis, who returned after missing 43 games and appeared as a pinch runner and played second base in the Dodgers' 4-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds. But the bad news was that Ellis pinch ran for shortstop Dee Gordon, who dislocated his right thumb while sliding into third base in the eighth inning.

The Dodgers got hits from the first four batters of the game, and the pitching staff made the first inning lead hold up in a 4-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium, giving the Dodgers their first series win since June 17, and their first two-game winning streak since June 9-10. But they may have lost Dee Gordon.

As expected, the Dodgers finally placed Andre Ethier on the disabled list on Wednesday after the right fielder missed six games with a strained left oblique. Ethier was limited to hitting in the cage and off a tee since the injury and had yet to resume batting practice with the team.

Game 81 Preview: Reds @ Dodgers (9:10 EDT). Harang vs. Leake.

First baseman James Loney scored the winning run on Tuesday night, scoring from first base on a double by Luis Cruz in the seventh inning of the Dodgers' 3-1 win over the Reds. Loney was nearly thrown out at home plate, an was tripped by Reds catcher Ryan Hanigan, but managed to slip his left foot onto the plate.