When the best pitching performance on the night goes to the backup catcher you know that things probably didn’t go well. And that’s exactly how it went for the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night in a 10-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels as their losing streak moved to three games.
Los Angeles had nothing against Chase Burns in the 1st, but things went their way a bit in the next inning. Burns would issue a 1-out walk and then back-to-back 2-out singles loaded the bases. The Reds right-handed starter then walked the #9 hitter in the lineup on five pitches to put the Angels up 1-0. A quick visit from pitching coach Derek Johnson seemed to work as Zach Neto grounded out two pitches later to end the inning.
The top of the 3rd inning began with Mike Trout hitting a long fly ball towards the 370 sign in right-center, but TJ Friedl jumped at the wall and robbed him of a home run to keep the deficit at a run and maybe earn a nice dinner courtesy of Chase Burns. The inning wasn’t going to be scoreless, though, as Jorge Soler doubled and then scored on a blooper that fell between Elly De La Cruz and Spencer Steer with two outs to plate the second run of the game for Los Angeles.
They would tack on more in the top of the 4th. After getting two outs on just four total pitches, Burns walked the #9 hitter again and he once again paid the price for that as Zach Neto hit a 2-run home run to dead center to make it a 4-0 ballgame.
Cincinnati was able to get on the board in the bottom of the 5th inning with the help from Angels pitcher Jack Kochanowicz. He would issue three consecutive 1-out walks to load the bases before TJ Friedl brought a run in on a groundout to first base. That run was all they would get and Los Angeles got it right back in the top of the 6th when Josh Lower led off with a home run that made it 5-1.
Connor Phillips entered the game for the Reds with one out in the top of the 6th and was able to pick up two outs on just three pitches to strand a runner. He would strike out three batters in a scoreless 7th inning, too. Sam Moll took over in the top of the 8th and after getting a pop up to begin the inning he issued back-to-back walks. That led to Kyle Nicolas being called into the game as he made his Cincinnati Reds debut after being traded for on March 4th. He gave up a soft line drive single to load the bases with Mike Trout due up. Nicolas walked him, bringing in the second run of the game for the Angels on a bases loaded walk. Jorge Soler then unloaded on a 98 MPH fastball, hitting a grand slam deep into left-center to make it 10-1.
Cincinnati would get one of those runs back when Elly De La Cruz hit a 2-out solo home run in the bottom of the 8th. When the top of the 9th rolled around the Reds sent backup catcher P.J. Higgins to the mound and he retired the side on 10 pitches. Tyler Stephenson would single in the bottom of the 9th but he was stranded there as the game ended.
Key Moment of the Game
Zach Neto’s 2-run home run in the 4th inning. It made it 4-0 and for a struggling offense that felt like an insurmountable lead.
Notes Worth Noting
The Reds offense had just four hits and went 0-4 with runners in scoring position. Elly De La Cruz, Eugenio Suarez, and Tyler Stephenson all reached base twice. The rest of the team went 0-21 with three walks.
Five players in the starting lineup ended the game with a batting average of .182 or lower.
Ke’Bryan Hayes is now 3-34 to begin the year.
The Reds have scored 41 runs in 14 games. Only the Seattle Mariners have scored fewer runs with 40 of them in 13 games.
Cincinnati pitching combined for eight walks, gave up three home runs, and allowed 10 hits.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Los Angeles Angels vs. Cincinnati Reds
Saturday April 11th, 4:10pm ET
George Klassen (0-0, 6.75 ERA) vs Brandon Williamson (1-1, 4.76 ERA)