CINCINNATI – Maybe it was their new City Connect uniforms, or just simply a case of bad luck turning into good. Whatever it was Saturday, the Reds found a way to get their offense going just long enough to help stop a losing skid.
Scoring most of their runs in the first two innings, Cincinnati claimed a 7-3 victory over the Angels on Saturday at Great American Ball Park. It ended a three-game losing streak.
Entering the day, the Reds had scored the fewest runs (41) in MLB while being held to two or fewer runs in half of their games (7).
As they debuted their new all-red uniform set on the field while facing Angels starter George Klassen, the Reds (9-6) took a 4-0 first inning lead while sending nine to the plate.
A Spencer Steer one-out walk started the rally and was followed by Elly De La Cruz's grounded single up the middle. After De La Cruz stole second base, Sal Stewart hit a grounder that was flubbed by first baseman Nolan Schanuel, enabling Steer to score. It was generously ruled an RBI single for Stewart.
After Eugenio Suárez walked to load the bases, Nathaniel Lowe pulled a three-run double down the right field line for the four-run lead. With one out in the second inning, Steer's drive to the left field corner clanked off the foul pole for his second homer of the season and a 5-0 lead.
Reds starter Brandon Williamson was in constant danger of giving the lead away while walking six batters over only four innings. Williamson walked two in the top of the second but escaped with an inning-ending double play. The Angels had the bases loaded in the third inning but netted only one run. A pair of fourth-inning walks finally burned Williamson when Mike Trout hit a two-out, two-run double to cut Cincinnati's lead to two runs.