The battery of Nick Lodolo and Tyler Stephenson broke the wings of the Los Angeles Angels in a 7-1 win to open a three-game series.
Lodolo kept the top of the Angels batting order in check while Stephenson hit a deciding home run.
Lodolo grew up an Angels' fan and followed the career of Mike Trout.
"It was cool to be in the game with him," Lodolo said. "I asked for the lineup card because his name was on it. All my friends at home are blowing up my phone."
The speed of Elly De La Cruz put the Reds on the scoreboard against Tyler Anderson. De La Cruz, who had the only Reds' hit off the Seattle pitching staff on Wednesday, grounded a hard single up the middle with two outs in the second inning. He stole second easily with Jake Fraley at bat. He took off for third and beat a wild throw by catcher Logan O'Hoppe. De La Cruz trotted home with the first run of the game.
Nick Lodolo made his second start of the year for the Reds. He retired the first seven batters but Jo Adell broke his bat and beat out a slow roller to third base. Adell stole second. Anthony Rendon hit a ground ball to the shortstop hole and beat De La Cruz running throw. Spencer Steer wheeled and threw out Adell at home plate trying to score.
"Steer is a good baseball player," David Bell said. "He anticipated the runner going home. It was the play of the game to that point. He has been playing in left field and made a great play by picking up the short hop and throwing home right away."
The Angels tied the score with two out in the fifth. Luis Rengifo singled and stole second. He scored on Adell's line single to left field. It was the first run allowed by Lodolo in his first 10 1/3 innings.
Stephenson got the Reds' lead back with a long home run, his second of the season.
"It was a great swing," Bell said. "It looked like they were going inside. He was able to clear it out and got the big part of the bat to the ball. He finally got it to the right part of the ball park."
Lodolo pitched 6 1/3 innings. He left with runners on second and third and one out in the seventh. Brandon Drury singled but was forced at second by O'Hoppe. Rengifo doubled. David Bell brought in Fernando Cruz to face Adell. Cruz struck out Adell on a 3-2 pitch. Zach Neto struck out looking to end the threat.
"Cruz has good stuff," Bell said. "He did a really good job reading the hitter. He made a good pitch to a hitter who did a really good job of laying off the splitter."
Lodolo allowed one run on seven hits, two of them infield hits. He didn't walk a batter and struck out six. Lodolo will go into his third scheduled start on Wednesday against the Phillies with a 0.75 ERA.
Nick went through a lot to get back out there," Bell said. "He was missed. We just wanted to make sure he was over the injury. He just needs to pitch. Tonight he definitely set the tone."
The left-hander who spent most of the 2023 season out with a leg injury was pitch efficient.
"I didn't know how many pitches I was throwing but I knew I was jumping ahead of hitters," Lodolo said.
The Reds broke the game open in the bottom of the eighth against the Halos' bullpen.
Adam Cimber walked Jonathan India, who earlier broke a career-high 0-for-24 slump with a base hit. Steer singled. Stuart Fairchild bunted them along with a sacrifice bunt. Stephenson walked. Cimber hit Nick Martini to force the Reds' third run home. Steer scored on a wild pitch from Jose Cisnero. De La Cruz' sixth home run of the season brought home the last three runs.
Buck Farmer came into the game in the ninth to mop up.
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