CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Johnny Cueto was striking out batters. Al Oliver Rangers Jersey . Joey Votto and Jay Bruce were driving in runs. For one night, the Cincinnati Reds felt like themselves. It hasnt happened that often this season. Cueto matched his career high with 12 strikeouts in six innings, and Votto and Bruce -- the missing core of Cincinnatis batting order much of the season -- each drove in runs Wednesday night, leading the Reds to a 5-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Cueto (6-5) followed his shortest start of the season with one of his most dominating. He gave up three singles and didnt walk a batter, leaving after his 112th pitch. Cueto lasted only five innings during an 8-0 loss to Philadelphia on Friday. The Dodgers fouled off a lot of pitches, quickly elevating Cuetos pitch count. He lobbied for one more inning but manager Bryan Price decided hed had enough. "Thats the way it was," Cueto said, with trainer Tomas Vera translating. "I wasnt trying to strike everybody out, but they made me throw a lot of pitches." Jonathan Broxton escaped a bases-loaded, one-out threat in the seventh by getting Hanley Ramirez to ground into a double play. "All were trying to do down there is get the outs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings and let (closer Aroldis Chapman) have the spotlight," Broxton said. "Thats been working most of the year." Votto doubled home a pair of runs off Hyun-Jin Ryu (7-3), who had won his last four starts. Votto hadnt driven in a run since May 10, missing 23 games in between because of a strained muscle above his left knee. Bruce missed two weeks following knee surgery. He hit a solo homer off Ryu, who gave up four runs in six innings. The Reds are hoping that with Votto and Bruce back in the lineup, they can get a lot more out of an offence that ranks second to last in the majors in runs scored. "We have a history here," Price said. "We have a real good understanding that we have players who have accomplished things at a high level here. You saw some of that tonight. Hopefully, itll be a precursor to good things." The loss snapped the Dodgers three-game winning streak, which matched their season high. Theyre 4-2 on a trip that concludes Thursday and 22-13 overall on the road. Dodgers left fielder Matt Kemp was ejected in the second inning by plate umpire Seth Buckminster, a minor league umpire brought up to the majors. Kemp was called out on strikes and continued to argue from the dugout. It was Kemps eighth career ejection and his second this season. Kemp was ejected by Angel Hernandez on April 26 for arguing a called third strike. Cueto faced the minimum 15 batters through five innings -- Dee Gordon singled but was picked off. He also fanned 10 over that span, including five in a row while getting up to 90 pitches. The Dodgers got a pair of singles in the sixth, but Ryu failed to get down a bunt to advance them. Ryu had won his first five decisions on the road this season. When he faced the Reds on May 26 at Dodger Stadium, he took a perfect game into the eighth before settling for a 4-3 victory. He helped the Reds get ahead in the rematch. Ryu walked two batters ahead of Vottos two-out double in the second. Votto scored on Brandon Phillips single. Bruce homered in the sixth for a 4-0 lead. NOTES: Zack Greinke (8-2) faces Alfredo Simon (8-3) in the final game of the series on Thursday afternoon. The Reds are 4-5 on their homestand. ... Ramirez was a late scratch because of a sore shoulder but pinch hit in the seventh and hit into the double play. ... RHP Chad Billingsley, who had reconstructive elbow surgery last year, didnt feel right while throwing in the bullpen on Tuesday and has put his rehab on hold until the elbow can be examined. ... RF Yasiel Puig visited the Cincinnati Zoo and tweeted photos and video of himself with elephants, polar bears and a snake. ... The Reds wore camouflage jerseys and hats honouring the military. ... SS Zack Cozart has a six-game hitting streak. Brock Burke Rangers Jersey . The underachieving franchise finished 17th in the 19-team league with a 6-17-11 record this season. "Our soccer team is absolutely in complete disarray," said Leiweke, drawing laughs during an Empire Club luncheon speech about the future of MLSE teams and plans to improve them. Buddy Bell Jersey . Spezza scored a power-play goal with 5 minutes left and Stephane Da Costa had the other two goals to lead the Ottawa Senators to a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night. https://www.cheaprangersbaseball.com/ .com) - Generally you want to be the guy who replaces the guy who replaced the legend.KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Right-hander Luke Hochevar and the Kansas City Royals agreed to a $10 million, two-year deal that should give the defending American League champions even more firepower in their bullpen.Hochevar will make $4.5 million this season and $5.5 million for the 2016 season, a person familiar with the terms told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because Hochevar must pass a physical to complete the agreement.Hochevar missed last season after Tommy John surgery.Despite the need for a starting pitcher to replace James Shields and a designated hitter to replace Billy Butler, the Royals have chosen to first lock down their pricy but effective bullpen.They have already exercised their option on setup man Wade Davis, which means he will earn $7 million next year — a big jump from the $4.8 million he made last season. That decision also triggers an $8 million option for 2016 with a $500,000 buyout. And if the Royals exercised that, they would have a $10 million option for 2017 with a $250,000 buyout.All-Star closer Greg Holland remains under club control through 2016, but hes eligible for arbitration and likely will earn more than $9 million next season.Add to the mix right-hander Kelvin Herrera, who handled most of the seventh-inning duties last season and will likely see a bump to about $1.5 million through arbitration, and the Royals could have $22 million tied up in four relief pitchers for the 2015 season.Of course, thats assuming all of them are still on the roster by spring training.The Royals have been open to the possibility of trading one of their prized relievers, and HHolland would net them the most in return. Harold Baines Rangers Jersey. With few impact bats available in free agency, a trade might be the best route for the Royals to address their gaping hole at designated hitter.It also remains to be seen just how effective Hochevar will be after Tommy John surgery.The former No. 1 overall draft pick struggled for years as a starting pitcher, going 11-11 with a 4.61 ERA in his best season. He drew the ire of Royals fans tired of losing, and became a not-so-pleasant face of a franchise that had been treading in baseballs backwater.But then Hochevar shifted to the bullpen fulltime in 2013, and he proved to be a dynamic relief pitcher. He went 5-1 with a 1.92 ERA, blowing away hitters with a upper-90s fastball.The Royals toyed with moving him back into the starting rotation last spring training, but they ultimately decided to keep him in the bullpen. Not long after that decision was made, the right-hander felt a twinge in his elbow. An MRI exam take a couple of days later revealed a major tear of the ulnar collateral ligament, resulting in Tommy John surgery.Hochevar spent the season rehabbing, but he also never strayed far from the clubhouse. And when the Royals went on a magical run to the World Series in its first playoff appearance in 29 years, Hochevar was right in the midst of it, rooting on his teammates every night.Now, after a long wait, it appears hell have a chance to help them out on the field once more. Hochevar is expected to be ready to pitch when the Royals report to Surprise, Arizona, for spring training in mid-February.___AP Sports Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report. ' ' '