CINCINNATI – One day after his throwing error led to a five-run first inning for the Cincinnati Reds, Angels second baseman Luis Rengifo booted a two-out ground ball that resulted in three unearned runs and a 3-0 loss Sunday before a crowd of 23,935 at Great American Ball Park.
Angels starter José Soriano (0-3) took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, but Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz broke it up with a one-out infield single. Two batters later, Rengifo misplayed Nick Martini’s grounder, and Cristian Encarnacion-Strand smoked a two-run double off the top of the wall in left-center field.
Jeimer Candelario’s triple plated Encarnacion-Strand for a 3-0 lead and spoiled the longest outing of Soriano’s career. The right-hander finished with a career-high seven strikeouts in six innings while allowing three hits, three walks and a hit batter.
The Reds had no hits before the sixth and only one after, but the three unearned runs were more than enough for the Cincinnati bullpen, which compiled 8 1/3 shutout innings after starter Frankie Montas took a Miguel Sanó line drive off his right forearm in the top of the first and exited after just 16 pitches.
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Emilio Pagan (2-1) earned the win as the second of five relievers for Cincinnati, while closer Alexis Diaz secured his fourth save of the season and second in as many games.
The Angels left five runners on base through the first three innings and nine for the game as they dropped their fourth game in a row and ended their 10-game road trip with a 3-7 record.
They will be back in action Monday at home against the Baltimore Orioles.
