The Reds started Game 2 of their Wild Card Series against the Dodgers with a burst of energy. Zack Littell, Yamamoto’s counterpart, wasn’t quite as sharp, but he held the Dodgers at bay with smoke and mirrors for three innings. Instead of his customary bottom-of-zone nibble, Yamamoto started De La Cruz with a curveball right down the 101. To be fair, that wasn’t the only chance the Reds had to do some damage with the bases loaded. For six pitches, Friedl had his defenses dialed in, leaning over the outside half to counter Vesia’s dialed-in location.