CINCINNATI -- It was a rough day all around for George Klassen.
The rookie right-hander, making his first career Major League road start and just his second big league start overall, left with an index fingernail contusion on his pitching hand after facing just one batter in the bottom of the third Saturday afternoon in the Angels' 7-3 loss to the Reds at Great American Ball Park.
After a walk to Tyler Stephenson, manager Kurt Suzuki, pitching coach Mike Maddux and trainer Mike Frostad came out to the pitcher’s mound to examine Klassen. After several minutes, he was lifted for lefty reliever Brent Suter.
Klassen retired the first batter he faced in the first, TJ Friedl, on a strikeout. But then the next six batters reached, highlighted by a three-run double down the right field line by Nathaniel Lowe. Cincinnati ended the first with a 4-0 lead.
Spencer Steer added a solo home run off the left field foul pole in the second for a 5-0 Cincinnati lead after two innings.
Klassen was charged with five runs on five hits in his two-plus innings, walking five and striking out just two while tossing 72 pitches, with only 34 strikes.