CINCINNATI -- Allowing three runs in the first inning usually doesn't spell doom for a pitcher or a team, as there should be plenty of time and space to settle in and expect a comeback. For the "Rally Reds" of 2023, that was rarely a concern.

But the way things are going lately for the Reds' anemic-producing offense, giving up three first-inning runs was the very last thing Nick Lodolo could afford. Especially since there was no response to be had.

The Orioles kept accumulating runs in the later innings to hand the Reds an 11-1 loss on Sunday. Swept in the three-game series at Great American Ball Park, they were outscored, 16-2, for the weekend.

“It was a tough series, a tough little stretch for our team," Reds manager David Bell said. "It’s going to turn around. It’s pretty much that simple. Not a whole lot to say.”

Cincinnati is on a season-high five-game losing streak, but its problems run deeper.

• The Reds have dropped eight of their past 10 games.
• They’ve scored 25 runs in that stretch, for an average of 2.5 runs per game. It includes being shut out twice and being held to one run three times.
• Their best hitter from the first month, Elly De La Cruz, is 6-for-35 (.171) in that span with one home run, one RBI and 14 strikeouts.
• For the season, the 16-18 Reds have a .210 team batting average that is ranked last in Major League Baseball.
• There are few breathers ahead after getting swept by the American League’s top team. The Reds' next 19 games are against National League West teams. That includes 10 games on the West Coast and seven games vs. the division-leading Dodgers.

“We have no choice but to get through," said right fielder Jake Fraley, who drove in Cincinnati's lone run with a ninth-inning RBI single. "Tomorrow is coming. It’s just baseball. You just show up and you play and you give it everything you’ve got and see where the pieces fall.”

Orioles starter Dean Kremer was perfect for 4 1/3 innings and gave up one hit and a walk over six innings. Christian Encarnacion-Strand broke up the perfect game with his fifth-inning single to center field. A Jonathan India walk followed, and Nick Martini's deep flyout let both runners move into scoring position.

The rally fizzled when Santiago Espinal popped out in foul territory.

For the first time in five games this season, the Reds lost a game Lodolo started after he surrendered four earned runs and four hits over five innings. He walked two and struck out six.

“It’s not fun, but as a team, we’ve got to hang in there," Lodolo said. "Believe me, it will come around. They’re going through it. As a team, we’re going through it. By no means did I put us in a good spot out of the gate. It definitely puts more pressure on the offense.”

Lodolo's first inning trouble came with two outs and twice, he was one strike away from a clean inning. Ryan Mountcastle hit a 2-2 curveball for a ground-rule double to the left-field corner. Down, 0-2, Anthony Santander hit another curveball for an RBI single to center field.

“If I finish that guy there, I think it’s a little different story," Lodolo said.

Alas, Jordan Westburg slugged a first-pitch fastball for a two-run home run to right field. Just like that, the Reds were in immediate catch-up mode and simply couldn't come close to catching up.

“Absolutely, it puts pressure. It’s the nature of the game," Fraley said. "It puts pressure because you care.”

Lodolo made a nice course correction after the first inning and faced the minimum over his next 12 batters. Two-out trouble resurfaced in the fifth inning when he hit Ramon Urías with a 1-2 curveball. After a Gunnar Henderson walk, Adley Rutschman's RBI double made it 4-0.

If there's good news, injured center fielder TJ Friedl (right wrist fracture) could be activated as early as Tuesday. Otherwise, Bell felt like there were no managerial mental tricks to perform to break the spell.

“It’s easy for me because we have good players," Bell said. "They do the right thing over and over again. They do things the right way. And that’s how you know it’s going to turn around. It’s not fun going through this or seeing guys struggle at all, even though it’s a very short stretch. We never want that. At the same time, I know it’s going to turn around because of who they are.”