Elly De La Cruz slugs 3-run HR and Nick Lodolo works 6 strong innings as Reds beat Angels 7-1

By MITCH STACY
AP Sports Writer

CINCINNATI (AP) — Elly De La Cruz hit a three-run homer, Nick Lodolo pitched 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball for his second quality start since coming off the injured list and the Cincinnati Reds snapped a three-game skid with a 7-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.

Besides the three-run shot in the eighth. De La Cruz manufactured another run with two outs in the second inning when the 22-year-old singled, stole second and third and scored on the errant throw to third by Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe.

“I always think about stealing the next base,” De La Cruz said. “Always aggressive.”

Lodolo (2-0) allowed a run and seven hits while striking out six after giving up just one hit in 5 2/3 innings against the White Six last Saturday in his first big league start in nearly a year.

The 26-year-old left-hander exited in the seventh Friday with one out and runners on second and third. Fernando Cruz came on and struck out Jo Adell and Zach Neto to end the threat.

“He definitely was missed,” Reds manager David Bell said. “He’s been great. Tonight he definitely set the tone for us by throwing strikes, Obviously, really good stuff to go along with that, but he attacked the hitters.”

Angels starter Tyler Anderson (2-2) also was outstanding. The 34-year-old lefty threw seven innings, allowing one earned run and three hits. He struck out two and walked three.

Tyler Stephenson homered 433 feet into the upper deck in left field with two outs in the sixth. Anderson got the third out and departed with the Reds leading 2-1.

Then the wheels came off for the Angels.

Relievers Adam Cimber and José Cisnero allowed five Cincinnati runs in the eighth, including De La Cruz’s sixth of the season.

“Tyler Anderson did do a great job. He kept us in that ball game,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “Then in the eighth, we brought in a pitcher (Cimber) that’s been doing a very good job to this point. He just didn’t have a good night, and we couldn’t do anything to shut that inning down.”

Lucas Sims got the Angels in order in the ninth.

The Angels’ only run came on an RBI single by Adell in the fifth.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Angels: INF/OF Brandon Drury returned to the lineup as the designated hitter. He missed three starts with tightness in his left hamstring. Manager Ron Washington said he could start in the field in one of the next two games of the series.

Reds: Infielders Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Jeimer Candelario were still out with illness. … Ended the rehab assignment of RHP Ian Gibaut because of renewed forearm discomfort. … Claimed INF Livan Soto off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles and optioned him to Triple-A Louisville.

UP NEXT

Angels lefty Patrick Sandoval (1-2, 4.67 ERA) faces off against Reds right-hander Graham Ashcraft (2-1, 4.15) as the interleague series continues Saturday night.

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