Gavin Lux hit his fifth home run of the year, and Brady Singer pitched six strong innings to lead the Cincinnati Reds past the Los Angeles Angels.
ANAHEIM, California – The Cincinnati Reds have gotten so good at locking down the Los Angeles Angels over the past decade that some of the fans are getting locked down along with them.
Well, maybe one. In fact, when that young woman ran on the field to join the defensive Angels in the outfield in the eighth inning of the latest meeting between the teams Aug. 18, she provided the closest thing to a highlight for the home team at Angels Stadium in the opener of this week’s three-game series.
Just before she was escorted off the field and headed, presumably, to the local hoosegow.
Perhaps a fitting punctuation to a 4-1 Reds victory — their ninth straight over the Angels in the interleague matchup?
The Reds’ personal Angels of mercy at least seem to be a reliable balm for all that grueling, grinding aggravation against the Brewers over the weekend.
“It was big,” said Reds reliever Scott Barlow, who got the four-out save on a night three heavily used back-end bullpen guys were unavailable – striking out four of the five he faced. “Especially after the last series (against the Brewers) when we fought, we fought, we fought and then to end the series the way we did (with a win), and then to carry it over to today is a testament to everybody’s grit, for sure.”
When Gavin Lux set the tone with a two-run, first-inning home run and Brady Singer pitched another six strong innings to help make it hold up, the Reds moved to just one game behind the idle New York Mets (66-58) for the final National League playoff position (with 36 games to play).
Next up for the Mets is a three-game series against the Washington Nationals. For the Reds: Hunter Greene (2.47 ERA) makes his second start since returning from a groin injury.
“It’s a hell of a lot better than when you’re not pitching in meaningful games, I can tell you that,” Singer (11-9) said. “This is what you play for. I’ve played a few seasons where you weren’t in it.
“Being right in this wild-card race, it’s a blast, and guys have been tremendous. We’re not over-hyped or under-hyped. We’re just going out there and doing the best we can and trying to stay in it.”
How long have the Reds had the Angels’ number?
“I don’t care. I really don’t,” Reds manager Terry Francona said. “I never look. Because you play the game tonight. And that’s what matters.”
For anybody else who might be curious, the last time the Angels beat the Reds Mike Trout was an MVP, and Derek Dietrich was the Reds’ cleanup hitter. That was June 25, 2019.
The Reds are working on a fourth straight series sweep since then (including a two-gamer that same season in August).
Singer turned in his fourth stellar start in his last five outings, striking out four and walking one in six innings
He’s 4-1 with a 1.86 ERA in his last five starts with 30 strikeouts and seven walks – on this night getting two highlight-worthy defensive plays of support from recently acquired third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes.
Hayes knocked down a hot shot from Christian Moore in the second and somehow turned it into a double play for the first two outs of the inning. And then to start the third, a comebacker that caromed off Singer's foot toward the third-base line turned into another out thanks to Hayes' barehand play and quick throw.
“Oh, my goodness,” Francona said. “That double play ball – that ball’s by him.
“I would say he comes as advertised,” the manager said. “We thought we were maybe getting the best defensive third baseman in the league, and it sure looks like it.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds win 9th straight vs. Angels; 1 game behind Mets
Category: Baseball
