The Angels are back after two days off due the storm and the field being too wet to play on Monday. Most importantly, Mike Trout is back as the Cincinnati Reds come into town for a rare interleague visit. Lucas Giolito got the assignment for the Halos against Graham Ashcraft of the Reds.
The second batter of the game, Matt McLain, got the Reds on the board first with a solo homer. It was a homecoming for McLain, a graduate of Irvine’s Beckman High School. 1-0 Reds.
Rookie sensation Elly De La Cruz stole a base as well, but no more runs were scored.
The Angels joined the long ball party in the 2nd inning, starting with Brandon Drury.
Then Mike Moustakas made it back to back with a solo homer of his own, creating more smoke over the field. 2-1 Angels after 2 innings.
Scoring was on pause until the 5th inning, when Logan O’Hoppe hit yet another solo homer for his first hit since returning from his multi-month injury absence to extend the Angels lead to 3-1.
In the bottom of the 5th the Reds answered back with a vengeance and with a little help from Nolan Schanuel at 1st base showing his inexperience. After a walk and a double, Elly De La Cruz hit a 2-out bouncer to 1st that should’ve been an easy play, but Elly’s speed must’ve spooked Schanuel because the ball bounced off him as he seemed to be already thinking about if he was going to run to step on first or toss the ball to a covering Giolito. This allowed both runners from second and third to score, tying the game at 3.
Then Long Beach’s Spencer Steer doubled to the left field corner with De La Cruz on first which normally when fielded cleanly would’ve resulted in runners at second and third. However, Elly is the fastest baseballer alive so he scored pretty easily, giving Cincy a 4-3 lead.
Giolito pitched 6 innings, allowing 4 runs on 5 hits with 9 K’s, but only one of the runs was earned. Jose Soriano relieved Lucas and pitched a scoreless 7th inning. Unfortunately for the home team, Ashcraft did not allow any more runs in the 6th or 7th.
Dominic Leone continued the scoreless streak with a shutdown 8th, then Sam Moll replaced Ashcraft in the Angels half of the inning getting pinch hitter Escobar out on strikes before Trout legged out in infield hit. Shohei had a chance to be a hero, but he flied out to left. Ian Gibaut then replaced Moll and got Drury out on a grounder to end the inning with no runs scored.
Aaron Loup pitched a scoreless top of the 9th, only allowing a bunt single. Reds closer Alexis Diaz came in and struck out Moustakas before hitting O’Hoppe on the elbow. Moniak pinch ran but then was caught stealing second base and Grichuk grounded out to the player of the game Elly De La Cruz. Reds win 4-3. Double header Shohei Day tomorrow.
