The Dodgers rise to their peak under pressure, demonstrating championship grit at a crucial moment.

When offensive continuity slipped away from the Dodgers last week, manager Dave Roberts stressed the importance of team plate appearances over individual exertion. This approach was showcased today at home, where the Dodgers won 6-3 against the Reds, thanks to a four-run rally in the sixth inning, sealing the series victory. The Dodgers have now earned three straight wins and are aiming for their first four-game winning streak since June 29 to July 3 — a stretch when they expanded their National League West lead to a season-high nine games.

The competitive landscape is now very different, with the Dodgers holding just a one-game lead over the Padres. At this critical time when they must perform at their best, recent games have shown the right direction. "It's encouraging to see the players perform at the level they should," Roberts said, "I’m referring to their energy intensity and competitive spirit."

Clayton Kershaw pitched strongly over five innings, though he admitted postgame that he wasn’t at his best from the start. Still, he struck out six and issued no walks, allowing two hits and one run in the first inning before retiring the next 14 batters consecutively. "Will Smith guided my pitching by precisely mixing different pitches with fastballs," Kershaw said of his catcher, "That strategy worked well through five innings. I’m not sure how long it would last, but at least I got through five innings."

The veteran left-hander left the game with only a one-run lead, but the team quickly extended the margin. Smith launched his 16th homer of the season in the bottom of the sixth to ignite the offense. Although one of the Dodgers’ most consistent hitters, Smith had been struggling recently — entering the game, his batting average since August 4 was just .132, with a slugging percentage of .481. "He’s been off in recent weeks, missing many good pitches," Roberts noted, "but that swing was perfect and hopefully a turning point. He’s always working hard, adjusting his hitting mechanics."

Following the home run, the Dodgers kept the pressure on. Andy Pages’ single forced Reds starter Nick Martinez to exit. Lefty Brent Suter came in and induced a fielder’s choice from pinch hitter Alex Call, which was Suter’s only out that inning. Kiké Hernández returned from injury and notched his second hit of the game, while Miguel Rojas’ pinch-hit fly ball landed in the warning track. Rookie center fielder Noelvi Marte, making his first career start at that position, failed to make the catch, resulting in a two-RBI double. Rojas then scored on Shohei Ohtani’s right-field single.

The only concern in the inning was Alex Call experiencing lower back discomfort while running, leading to his replacement by Justin Dean during the half-inning defense. However, Roberts said the injury was not serious and Call is expected to play in the series finale. These insurance runs proved crucial — in the seventh, Ben Casparius gave up a two-run homer to Austin Hays, cutting the lead to three, but that was the bullpen’s only blemish tonight. Closer Tanner Scott, returning from injury, earned his first save since coming back.

After briefly losing the top spot in the NL West twice over the past two weeks, the Dodgers understand how vital late-season performance is for defending their title. Despite fierce division competition, they believe this pressure helps bring out their best. "This is a test for everyone," Hernández said Monday, "From now on, we’ll be living in a playoff atmosphere. From my experience here, seasons where teams don’t clinch the division early often reach their peak form in October."