It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting Seafarer's Memorial in Homer, LA gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Homer, LA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“Rae has been an absolute joy to work with. She has supported our family in”
“Best experience with home health”
“I am a current client of this provider I like that the agency has honest caregivers”
“A great choice for in home care. Very detail oriented and take the time to”
“Always Best Care has been kind, professional, and welcoming. They will provide your family with”
“Donna Kees is a loving, kind, caring caretaker”
“Ms leambrial hill is a good caregiver and yall have a great company”
“Shamekia Jenkins is a wonderful caregiver and I love the way she takes care of”
“Always best care has been so wonderful and kind! They really do treat you like”
“Great staff and always very welcoming!!”
“Such a wonderful company for care service for your love one in need of care”
“Ms leambrial Hill she is wonderful caregiver and she goes above and beyond for her”
“Great Caregiver agency !”
“Stephanie Hicks takes care of my wife like she's her Mom! Stephanie always puts my”
“Hi I was stopping by to say that this is a great place to work”
“Excellent service and company”
“Very good”
“Great experience with this company. Some of the best employees!”
“Always best care is a wonderful work place where staff is radiate love, compassion, enthusiasm”
“Always best care is a wonderful place of employment the staff gives out so much”
“Great senior care !!!”
“I am a current client of this provider The nurses are nice and polite and take”
“I am a past client of this provider They need more actual people to come by.”
“They are incredible! One of the managers Mariah came today to begin care for my”
“They are the best!”
“Rae has been an absolute joy to work with. She has supported our family in countless ways and consistently goes above and beyond to ensure our needs are met. I wholeheartedly recommend this company to anyone seeking exceptional care for themselves or a loved one.”
“Best experience with home health”
“I am a current client of this provider I like that the agency has honest caregivers and works with me. I could not do without it; they have helped me in many ways.”
“A great choice for in home care. Very detail oriented and take the time to understand what you need specifically.”
“Always Best Care has been kind, professional, and welcoming. They will provide your family with the care required.”
“Donna Kees is a loving, kind, caring caretaker”
“Ms leambrial hill is a good caregiver and yall have a great company”
“Shamekia Jenkins is a wonderful caregiver and I love the way she takes care of my mom. Always Best Care Services is the place to have taking care of your love ones!”
“Always best care has been so wonderful and kind! They really do treat you like you are apart of the family!”
“Great staff and always very welcoming!!”
“Such a wonderful company for care service for your love one in need of care an companion passionate caregivers an employee staff I've heard so many good stories of appreciated services highly would recommend service”
“Ms leambrial Hill she is wonderful caregiver and she goes above and beyond for her clients...”
“Great Caregiver agency !”
“Stephanie Hicks takes care of my wife like she's her Mom! Stephanie always puts my wife interest 1st. Very well trained in Memory Care. The local office is easy to work with. I highly recommend this company to take care of your loved one!”
“Hi I was stopping by to say that this is a great place to work ..”
“Excellent service and company”
“Very good”
“Great experience with this company. Some of the best employees!”
“Always best care is a wonderful work place where staff is radiate love, compassion, enthusiasm to all clients and caregivers. What a great place of business”
“Always best care is a wonderful place of employment the staff gives out so much energy and love mixed with care not only to their clients but to their caregivers Cna etc. way to go ABC”
“Great senior care !!!”
“I am a current client of this provider The nurses are nice and polite and take good care of my husband. They took a load off of me.”
“I am a past client of this provider They need more actual people to come by. There was a period of time when nobody came by. When the caregivers actually came by, they were quite helpful. They'd help me bathe my father and feed him.”
“They are incredible! One of the managers Mariah came today to begin care for my grandma and was so professional and kind.”
“They are the best!”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Karen Hornaday Park in Homer, LA with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local The Chart Room Restaurant or visit Pratt Museum, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
Request More Information
While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Homer, LA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Homer, LA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Homer, LA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Open Extended ReactionsSAN DIEGO -- When the ball left Manny Machado's bat in Wednesday's eighth inning, Christian Yelich didn't watch its flight.He looked directly at Machado and noticed something: The San Diego Padres star third baseman was barely moving. To Yelich, it was a clear indication that the ball would sail over the fence and Game 4 would be tied."He's hit about 400 homers in this league," Yelich said. "He kind of knows what it feels like when he gets one."Instead, Brewers center fie...
Open Extended Reactions
SAN DIEGO -- When the ball left Manny Machado's bat in Wednesday's eighth inning, Christian Yelich didn't watch its flight.
He looked directly at Machado and noticed something: The San Diego Padres star third baseman was barely moving. To Yelich, it was a clear indication that the ball would sail over the fence and Game 4 would be tied.
"He's hit about 400 homers in this league," Yelich said. "He kind of knows what it feels like when he gets one."
Instead, Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell ranged to Petco Park's warning track, fended off a couple of fans and secured a catch that helped Milwaukee to a 3-1 victory and a return to the National League Championship Series, where a rematch against the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers awaits.
"I was just trying to get back to the ball," Mitchell said. "The ball was hit really well. I don't know, it just happened. Instinctually just do what I do, make a good jump and see what happens."
The moment felt eerily familiar to one nine years ago, when Adam Jones raced to almost that exact same spot to rob Machado of a critical home run and help Team USA advance to the championship round of the World Baseball Classic.
Wednesday's catch -- on a ball that traveled 406 feet and 106.7 mph -- helped snap the Brewers' 12-game postseason road losing streak, tied for the longest in major league history. Home run robberies have been tracked since 2004. Machado's marked the first time a player had been robbed of a potential game-tying or go-ahead homer in the eighth inning or later of a playoff game, according to ESPN Insights.
"I was really worried," Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold said. "But like Garrett Mitchell just vanished into the crowd and pulled it out. It was awesome."
It became the third heartbreak absorbed by the Padres in this series, following a potential Ty France home run that clanked off a roof panel in Game 1 and the Jackson Chourio walk-off single against Mason Miller in Game 2. And it capped a night in which the Brewers won the way only they can.
By getting four quality innings out of their starting pitcher, Robert Gasser. By a relentless offensive approach that saw them go the first six innings without a strikeout and hardly chase throughout the night. And by deploying a shutdown bullpen, which saw Aaron Ashby, Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill combine for five no-hit innings.
"It's insane what we have back there," Gasser said of the Brewers' relievers. "We give them the ball with the lead, I feel really good about it."
The Brewers won a major league-best 103 regular-season games behind a dominant bullpen, an airtight defense, an offense that excels at the little things -- drawing walks, taking the extra base, producing with runners in scoring position -- and a rotation headlined by two aces in Jacob Misiorowski and Logan Henderson. The question is whether that will be good enough to take down a Dodgers team that outscored them 15-4 in a four-game sweep in last year's NLCS.
Mitchell, who drove in the game's first run and scored its second, believes there's a "different type of confidence and belief in ourselves" that he hopes will make the difference.
"Coming into the postseason, you have a feeling that you're gonna have to go through L.A.," Yelich said. "They're back-to-back champs, and they're a great team. We have a lot of respect for those guys. But at the same time, we feel like we can play with everybody. And when we play our game and our brand of baseball, we're a really hard team to beat."
Padres starter Walker Buehler came in throwing harder than he has all year, but the Brewers' hitters lured him into the strike zone. Sal Frelick led off the third inning with a single, stole second base and came home on Mitchell's base hit up the middle, marking the first time all series the Brewers scored first.
After Fernando Tatis Jr. tied the game with a solo home run in the bottom half, the Brewers answered with a triple by Mitchell and an RBI single from Chourio -- his sixth in four games and the 17th of his postseason career, setting a franchise record and tying Andruw Jones for the most by a player younger than 23. The Brewers tacked on another run on Frelick's sacrifice fly in the sixth, by which point Ashby was mowing down the Padres' lineup on his way to three scoreless innings.
Uribe followed him, and with one out and one on in the bottom of the eighth, he threw an 0-1, 99.6 mph sinker down in the zone. Machado unleashed a swing that seemed primed to tie this game. A sold-out crowd of 47,712 went silent.
Said Gasser: "We went quiet too."
The Brewers are in the postseason for the eighth time in nine years but are still chasing the first championship in the franchise's 57-year history. Fittingly, the Dodgers are in their way. The Brewers have faced the Dodgers three times in the playoffs over the past eight years and lost each series. They have also lost seven playoff games in a row against them, dating back to Game 7 of the 2018 NLCS.
But this year's team will be fronted by two aces that can swing any series -- and a continued belief that their brand of baseball can win it all.
"A lot of people have said we're not built for the postseason because we've done so well in the regular season," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. "We just have a dearth of players, no stars -- not many stars -- where I think we're proving that, no, we still can win in the postseason because good baseball is good baseball."
PHOENIX — From the crack of the bat and the trajectory of the ball, it was immediately clear that the Dodgers had found a new way to lose.Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz hung a slider over the plate to Arizona’s Ryan Waldschmidt, and he sent it over the left-center field wall for a two-run, walk-off homer in a 4-3 win that sent the Dodgers to a season-worst seventh straight loss.“I’ve got to find it tonight, tomorrow when I come to the field,” Díaz said of his slider, which hasn’t bee...
PHOENIX — From the crack of the bat and the trajectory of the ball, it was immediately clear that the Dodgers had found a new way to lose.
Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz hung a slider over the plate to Arizona’s Ryan Waldschmidt, and he sent it over the left-center field wall for a two-run, walk-off homer in a 4-3 win that sent the Dodgers to a season-worst seventh straight loss.
“I’ve got to find it tonight, tomorrow when I come to the field,” Díaz said of his slider, which hasn’t been nearly as effective as usual this season. “Because that’s my pitch. I got a good fastball, but my slider is the strikeout pitch. And today, I missed with two strikes. ... I’m still positive. I’m always positive. Just got to do my job better and help the team to win.”
For the first time in a long time, an in-division matchup felt like it had real stakes.
The Dodgers’ recent skid dropped their National League West lead into single digits for the first time in over a month. They are now only 7½ games ahead of the second-place Diamondbacks.
They also now have the fourth-best record in the majors (69-47), falling behind the Brewers (72-44), Braves (70-46) and Rays (69-46).
“A week ago, it looked a lot different,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “And another week from now, it could look even more different. So you’ve just got to put your head down and play baseball.”
They did, at least, have a better record than last season (67-49) at the 116-game mark. But the Dodgers would prefer to, unlike last year, at least earn a first-round bye, and ideally home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Their performance Friday sent them in the wrong direction.
“A loss is a loss, but to get walked off never feels good,” Roberts said. “We didn’t play a clean game, a great game on either side of the baseball, but we did enough to put ourselves in a position to win a game, and unfortunately, we couldn’t finish it.”
The Dodgers went hitless against Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly for the first five innings. Kyle Tucker and Shohei Ohtani drew walks, as the Dodgers’ only baserunners before the sixth — and Ohtani was thrown out attempting to steal second to end the third inning.
Finally, leading off the sixth, Tommy Edman — who three innings prior was robbed of a home run on a leaping grab by Diamondbacks right fielder Corbin Carroll — broke up Kelly’s no-hit bid with a sharp infield hit.
Kelly picked off Edman at first base, but Hunter Feduccia followed with a single, the catcher’s first hit since rejoining the Dodgers at the trade deadline.
Ohtani and Andy Pages drew walks to load the bases. And the Dodgers finally scored on a fielder’s choice grounder by Freddie Freeman.
Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki held the Diamondbacks to two runs in six innings. He surrendered a solo homer to Arizona third baseman Nolan Arenado in the second and an RBI triple to Geraldo Perdomo in the fifth. But he gave up just two other hits.
“The split wasn’t as good as it has been, but he did a fine job,” Roberts said. “He really did, and it’s good to see him, even when his best pitch isn’t there, still go out there and finding ways to get through six innings and put us in a good spot to win.”
With both starters out by the seventh (Kelly exited with two outs in the sixth because of cramping in his right leg), the Dodgers orchestrated a comeback — and then gave up the lead.
Edman drove in the tying run, too, lining a single to left for the Dodgers’ third hit of the inning off Diamondbacks right-hander Taylor Clarke in the seventh. But the Dodgers failed to turn a bases-loaded situation into a crooked number when Ohtani grounded into a double play to end the inning.
The next inning, Pages gave the Dodgers the lead with a solo homer off Diamondbacks lefty Brandyn Garcia.
The Diamondbacks threatened against Dodgers setup man Tanner Scott. But he escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth by winning a 12-pitch at-bat against Arenado, who scored several foul balls down the left-field line before striking out.
Scott’s fastball velocity was down 1.5 mph under his season average, the second such dip in his last three outings. The trend was concerning enough for Roberts to make note of it after the game.
“It took him [24] pitches to get through it,” Roberts said. “But big pitch against Arenado to get through it.”
Díaz wasn’t so lucky.
The eight-pitch leadoff walk he issued came back to haunt him when, with one out, in a 2-2 count, he missed his spot on a slider to Waldschmidt.
“I got to be better with that,” Díaz said, noting that his delivery has improved since his last outing. “I’m a big-league pitcher, so I’ve got to make pitches. So next time when I come into the game, I’ve got to do better.”
It was Díaz’s first blown save since returning from April arthroscopic elbow surgery. But he’s given up runs in three of his last four outings.
Roberts wasn’t ready to shake up bullpen roles based on what he saw.
“You’ve also got to look at the options, and see the way some of these guys are throwing, they’re not throwing great, either,” he said. “So we’ve got to ... keep guys in their roles that they’ve earned, and [try] to line guys up and try to get them on a run back the way we were a few weeks ago. So I just don’t think right now there’s a clear-cut alternative.”
Trade-deadline acquisition Kris Bubic, who is rehabbing at the Dodgers’ Arizona complex, is taking advantage of the opportunity to be around the team this weekend at Chase Field.
“It’s been a whirlwind the last couple days,” Bubic said. “Obviously, I had been with Kansas City the whole time since I was drafted. I’ve been there my whole big-league career. I’d been on the shelf for a little bit now, but to hear I was getting traded over here was pretty exciting.
“The roster speaks for itself. The success speaks for itself. The opportunity to be a part of this, to learn from these guys, all the coaches on the staff and whatnot, it’s going to be an exciting time. I’m really looking forward to getting started.”
Bubic initially landed on the injured list in mid-May with a low-grade flexor strain in his left forearm, he specified. While working back from that injury, he had setbacks with an impingement in his left shoulder.
Because he has an injury history with both his elbow (2023 Tommy John surgery) and shoulder (2025 rotator cuff strain), the Royals didn’t rush him back. Bubic said he had a cortisone injection on July 1 and then threw off a mound on Sunday.
“I’m kind of itching to get back going,” he said. “But I know talking with the staff here they’ve got a pretty good plan. I’m expected to come out of the ‘pen in some capacity. At this point, I’m looking forward to getting back on the field and helping this team down the stretch.”
Bubic said the Dodgers have already presented him with a couple mechanical tweaks. He hopes to begin a minor-league rehab assignment around the end of the month or beginning of September.
The Dodgers plan to pitch two-time Cy Young winners in back-to-back games against the Royals when they return to Los Angeles next week.
On Monday, Tarik Skubal is scheduled to make his first home start at Dodger Stadium, and second with the Dodgers since being acquired in a trade with the Detroit Tigers. On Wednesday, Blake Snell is set to return from the IL for his second start of the season, his first since May.
ATLANTA -- The distance between Elly De La Cruz and a 30/30 season? Ninety feet.In a continuation of his scorching September, De La Cruz hit his 30th home run of the season. It was one of three slugged by the Reds during Thursday's 7-6 win over the Braves that gave them two of three in the series.“It’s the first time I’ve hit 30 home runs. That's something everybody wants to do, so it’s really special," De La Cruz said.Meanwhile, De La Cruz remained one bag away from 30 steals and being Cinci...
ATLANTA -- The distance between Elly De La Cruz and a 30/30 season? Ninety feet.
In a continuation of his scorching September, De La Cruz hit his 30th home run of the season. It was one of three slugged by the Reds during Thursday's 7-6 win over the Braves that gave them two of three in the series.
“It’s the first time I’ve hit 30 home runs. That's something everybody wants to do, so it’s really special," De La Cruz said.
Meanwhile, De La Cruz remained one bag away from 30 steals and being Cincinnati's first 30/30 player in 19 years. There are three games remaining in the season, all in Toronto. If he gets on base vs. the Blue Jays, will he be looking extra hard for that 30th steal?
“All the time when I’m playing, I’m looking to do anything to help win the game," De La Cruz said.
The Reds were trailing, 4-2, in the third inning when De La Cruz sparked a three-run rally by clobbering Tyler Mahle's 1-0 splitter over the middle of the plate for a no-doubt homer to right field.
It was De La Cruz's ninth homer in September, the most in a calendar month by a switch-hitter in Reds history. For the month, he is tied for the Major League lead in homers and is ranked near the top in average (.377) and slugging (.792).
In 30 games since Aug. 22, De La Cruz is batting .391 with a 1.205 OPS and 20 RBIs.
The list of Reds with 30 homers and 30 steals in a single season is three players: Brandon Phillips in 2007, Barry Larkin in 1996 and Eric Davis in 1987. Had De La Cruz not missed three weeks in June with a right hamstring strain, he might have had a chance at a 40/40 season.
“I think he’s been tremendous," manager Terry Francona said. "This kid, what he played through, and I know I’ve said it, but he’s just different. I think some people can almost will themselves to feel better, and I think he’s in that group.”
Singer hit hard in no-decision
Veteran starting pitcher Brady Singer was unable to end his season on a high note after being roughed up for five runs and seven hits over three innings with two walks and one strikeout. Singer faced 10 batters in the bottom of the first inning as Atlanta took a 4-1 lead.
“I just gave up a lot of hard contact," Singer said. "The goal was to go out there and get in the zone early, and I felt like I did. I felt confident in the zone, and they just put good swings on balls, and then I obviously got tired when the pitch count got up and I started walking guys and stuff like that.”
After the Reds battled back for a 5-4 lead in the top of the third, Singer gave up a two-out solo homer to Austin Riley in the bottom of the inning. It extended Singer's career high of 32 homers allowed in 2026.
Over his 31 starts and 157 innings, Singer finished 6-15 with a 5.85 ERA. In four September starts, he had a 15.26 ERA as he heads into free agency after the season.
“It’s obviously not good at all. I’m not happy with it whatsoever," Singer said. "Started bad and I got on a good run there and felt good, and then the last couple of outings have been really bad."
Big night for Jorge
Leading off the game against Mahle, rookie Carlos Jorge hit his first Major League home run by hitting a 2-1 pitch to right field. He was the fifth Red in the last 50 years and the first since Chris Dickerson in 2008 to hit a leadoff homer for the first of his career.
“It feels awesome to get the first one," Jorge said. "It’s so special that I had my first home run with this kind of team, with guys that I know and I’ve been playing around for a while, so this is special.”
Jorge was busy on defense, with his 11 putouts being the most for an outfielder in franchise history during a single game nine innings or fewer since 1900.
“There was a lot," Jorge said. "I came here to do that. That’s my job. The best part is I have fun doing it.”
Jorge, 23, hadn't done much offensively since his Sept. 4 promotion, but the Reds like the tools their No. 15-ranked prospect offers.
“This kid started in Double-A. There’s a lot to not [just] like -- there’s a lot to love," Francona said. "His skill set kind of screams top-of-the-order center fielder, but we need to let him play.”
Senior Reporter Mark Sheldon has covered the Reds for MLB.com since 2006, and previously covered the Twins from 2001-05.
LOS ANGELES -- As Elly De La Cruz rounded third base in the top of the third on Tuesday night, he didn’t just look toward his teammates waiting in the dugout. He pointed a finger directly toward the seats behind home plate, locking eyes with his brother, who was watching from the stands as the Reds shortstop put on a show in Chavez Ravine.Cincinnati’s 24-year-old centerpiece unloaded on a first-pitch, 87.5 mph changeup from Dodgers starter Tarik Skubal, sending a Statcast-projected 444-foot rocket soaring into left-center ...
LOS ANGELES -- As Elly De La Cruz rounded third base in the top of the third on Tuesday night, he didn’t just look toward his teammates waiting in the dugout. He pointed a finger directly toward the seats behind home plate, locking eyes with his brother, who was watching from the stands as the Reds shortstop put on a show in Chavez Ravine.
Cincinnati’s 24-year-old centerpiece unloaded on a first-pitch, 87.5 mph changeup from Dodgers starter Tarik Skubal, sending a Statcast-projected 444-foot rocket soaring into left-center field to tie the game before the Reds ultimately dropped a 3-2 decision to Los Angeles.
The two-run blast bested a July 12 launch by Shohei Ohtani by seven feet to become the longest home run hit at Dodger Stadium so far during the 2026 season, while matching De La Cruz's single-season career high with his 25th big fly and extending his home run streak to four consecutive games.
"I thought it was a good pitch to hit," De La Cruz said of the blast. "We always want to come out with a win, but it feels good to do the job."
The home run erased Cincinnati's early deficit, but De La Cruz was far from done in the third. Before the frame was over, he found another way to leave his mark on the game.
In the bottom of the frame, Teoscar Hernández lined a ball into center field that skipped all the way to the outfield gate. As Hernández rounded third, third-base coach Dino Ebel waved him home. De La Cruz gathered the relay from left fielder JJ Bleday, turned and uncorked a legendary strike to catcher Jose Trevino to gun down Hernández at the plate.
The throw clocked in at 102.0 mph, per Statcast, and was easily the fastest assist by an infielder tracked by Statcast (since 2015), surpassing De La Cruz's own record of 99.8 mph, which he did twice. Beyond the numbers, the sheer spectacle of the throw left everyone stunned.
"That was one of the better throws you'll ever see, I mean, ever," manager Terry Francona said. "I know I turn on the old things and you see Dave Parker or somebody making throws or Clemente; they might be showing that one [now]."
"Every time he throws a ball, it's an absolute rocket," starting pitcher Nick Lodolo added. "It was a great throw, and it was a great pick by Trevi to stay with that and make the tag. A lot of credit to both guys there."
As for De La Cruz, when asked about the potential velocity on the play, the shortstop took a more modest view of his arm strength.
"I thought it was like 98, 99 [mph]," De La Cruz said. "I didn't know; it was not hard."
While De La Cruz generated the night's biggest moments, Lodolo fought through a demanding outing on the mound in front of his hometown Southern California crowd
The left-hander worked 4 2/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits while striking out six across 97 pitches.
After surrendering a solo homer to Will Smith in the first, Lodolo's biggest obstacle arrived in the second, when a pair of walks and a hit-by-pitch forced home a run, but he was able to escape without allowing further damage. Yet, despite fighting his command early, Francona saw clear improvement in his efficiency through the middle innings before a two-out single by Teoscar Hernández in the fifth ended the southpaw's night.
"I thought early he wasn't commanding," Francona said. "As he got into the third, fourth, fifth, I actually thought he was better, and I was kind of fighting it [leaving him in] because I know Hernández wasn't a great matchup, but I really wanted him to get through that fifth. I thought it would have been really good for him, [but then] he reached out and poked a 3-1 changeup into right."
For Lodolo, the evaluation of his evening came down to those early execution issues on the mound.
“Too many free passes on my part," Lodolo admitted. "That's what led to the runs outside of the good hit by Smith in the first. Overall, got to limit the free passes. My stuff is great, just gotta limit that and make them work a little bit more."
The loss halted a strong run for the Reds, who had entered the week having won three consecutive series over the Cubs, Padres and Brewers. Cincinnati will look to avoid a sweep and salvage Wednesday night's finale against the Dodgers.
318.459.9312
