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Dateline: Cincinnati
Chase Burns was not as sharp in his start against the Los Angeles Angels as he was against the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Texas Rangers in his first two starts.
"He has been giving us a good chance to win. He's been exciting to watch but he's learning on the job," manager Terry Francona said before the game. "Tonight it was fastball command. There were a number of balls that were hit right on the nose. Thankfully the park was playing a little bigger than normal. It was because he wasn't able to throw his fastball where he wanted to."
It was the third straight game in which the Reds' starter put the team that is struggling to score runs in a hole. The Angels put the game away late in a 10-2 thumping of the home team.
Burns starter strong, striking out two of the first four hitters but he walked Yoan Moncada for the games first base runner. Jo Adell flied out to deep center for the second out of the inning but Josh Lowe, who is playing against his brother, Nathaniel, singled past Ke' Bryan Hayes at third base. Logan O'Hoppe singled to load the bases. Burns walked number nine hitter, Adam Frazier to force in the first run of the game.
Mike Trout was robbed of a home run by TJ Friedl in right center field to start the third inning. One out later, Jorge Soler, doubled down the left field line. Moncada lined a single in front of Spencer Steer in left to score Soler.
Jack Kochanowicz gave up a single to Eugenio Suarez to open the bottom of the second inning. A passed ball put him in scoring position but the Reds, who started the game with a Major League low, .168 average with runners in scoring position, were 0-for-2 with Suarez on second base.
Burns retired the first two batters of the fourth inning but he walked Frazier for the second time. Zach Neto hit his fifth home run of the season to put the Angels up, 4-0.
"It was just strike one. It's on me," Burns said. "It was a combination of things. Maybe overthrowing. I wasn't able to get the ball up and in to some guys. If you put it thigh high, they can time up a heater and that's what happens. I will take what was good and bad about this game, go back to the drawing board, work on some things and get ready for the next start."
Kochanowicz retired 10 Reds hitters in a row, then inexplicably misplaced the strike zone, walking Will Benson, Tyler Stephenson and Hayes in order. Friedl hit a hot ground ball to Nolan Schanuel at first base, who took the out at first as Benson scored. He ended the inning by getting Matt McLain to ground out and the Reds scored without a hit.
The Reds had just four hits on the game.
"It was their starter, mid 90's, movement on the two seamer," Francona said. "I talked to our guys before the game about making him get the ball up. We weren't able to accomplish that."
Lowe hit his second home run of the year off Burns, leading off the sixth inning. A single by Frazier ended the game for Burns, who pitched 5 1/3 innings. He allowed five earned runs on seven hits and four walks. He struck out two.
Connor Phillips took over for the Reds.
Suarez singled for his and the Reds' second hit with two outs in the sixth.
Los Angles broke the game open in the eighth inning. Sam Moll got Lowe to pop out but walked O'Hoppe and Frazier, who reached base for the fourth time. Kyle Nicolas made his first appearance for the Reds. Neto singled to load the bases. Mike Trout walked to force in the sixth run. Soler broke the game wide open with his third career grand slam and fourth home run of the season.
The Reds saved a little face when Elly De La Cruz launched his fourth home run with two outs in the eighth. The blow came against left hander, Mitch Farris.
PJ Higgins, who was promoted after four years in the minor leagues when Jose Trevino was placed on the injured list, pitched the ninth inning to save the Reds a bullpen arm. He struck out Josh Lowe with Nathaniel Lowe in the game at first base. O'Hoppe popped out to short and Frazier was retired for the first time flying out to center.
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