José Soriano continued his exceptional start to the season Sunday as the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Cincinnati Reds 9-6 at Great American Ball Park.
The right-hander struck out 10 batters across seven shutout innings and became the first pitcher in Major League Baseball to reach four wins this season. Soriano lowered his ERA to a league-best 0.33 and helped the Angels secure their first series victory in Cincinnati since 2007.
Los Angeles controlled the game early with aggressive hitting and strong pitching before holding off a late Reds rally. The Angels won two of three games in the series and showed signs of offensive consistency behind another dominant outing from their emerging ace.
Soriano Continues Historic Opening Stretch
Soriano looked sharp from the beginning and never allowed Cincinnati’s lineup to settle into rhythm.
He gave up only two hits and three walks while throwing 106 pitches. His fastball generated weak contact, and his breaking pitches repeatedly fooled Reds hitters throughout the afternoon.
The 27-year-old consistently escaped trouble by attacking hitters late in counts. Cincinnati managed only scattered offense against him and failed to produce a run while he remained on the mound.
Soriano’s 10 strikeouts matched one of the best outings of his career. He also became the first Angels pitcher since Jered Weaver in 2011 to open a season with four straight wins.
His ERA now stands at 0.33 through four starts, making him one of the most effective starters in baseball during the opening weeks of the season.
The Angels have leaned heavily on Soriano early this year, and he continues to respond with dominant performances.
Angels Build Early Lead
Los Angeles gave Soriano immediate support with a three-run first inning.
Nolan Schanuel delivered the biggest hit of the inning with a two-run single that put the Angels ahead early. Logan O’Hoppe added another RBI hit during the opening rally as Los Angeles attacked Reds starter Andrew Abbott from the start.
The Angels added two more runs in the second inning.
Mike Trout drove in a run with an RBI double and later scored on Jorge Soler’s sacrifice fly. Trout crossed the plate three times during the game and remained a major factor near the top of the lineup.
Los Angeles kept adding pressure in the fourth inning when Oswald Peraza homered on the first pitch he saw.
The Angels lineup stayed aggressive throughout the afternoon and consistently forced Cincinnati pitchers into difficult counts.
Abbott Struggles Against Angels Lineup
Andrew Abbott endured one of the roughest starts of his career.
The Reds left-hander allowed seven earned runs for the first time and matched a career high by surrendering seven total runs. He lasted only three innings and gave up eight hits and two walks.
Los Angeles hitters consistently attacked pitches over the middle of the plate and capitalized on mistakes early in counts.
Abbott struggled to command his fastball and fell behind several hitters. Once the Angels gained momentum, Cincinnati never fully recovered.
The Reds bullpen later slowed the damage, but the early deficit proved too large to overcome.
Schanuel Leads Balanced Offensive Effort
Schanuel finished with three RBIs and continued to provide quality at-bats in key situations.
His first-inning single immediately changed the tone of the game and gave the Angels confidence early.
Peraza added power from the lower half of the lineup, while Trout and Soler created pressure near the top of the order. Los Angeles combined timely hitting with disciplined approaches throughout the game.
The Angels built a 9-0 lead entering the late innings and appeared headed toward a comfortable finish before Cincinnati mounted a rally.
Every part of the lineup contributed offensively, allowing Los Angeles to maintain control for most of the afternoon.
Reds Rally Late But Fall Short
Cincinnati finally broke through after Soriano exited the game.
Elly De La Cruz delivered the biggest moment for the Reds with a three-run home run late in the contest. The star shortstop continued his strong start to the season and briefly energized the home crowd.
The Reds added several more runs during the closing innings and cut into what had once been a dominant Angels lead.
Despite the late offensive push, Cincinnati could not fully recover from the early damage created by Soriano and the Angels’ offense.
Los Angeles eventually closed out the game and secured an important road series victory.
Trout Continues Strong Offensive Form
Mike Trout continued to look increasingly comfortable at the plate.
The veteran outfielder collected another RBI and scored three runs while consistently reaching base and creating opportunities for the middle of the lineup.
Trout’s patience and ability to work deep counts helped Los Angeles maintain offensive pressure throughout the game.
The Angels offense has looked more balanced in recent games, especially when Trout consistently sets the tone near the top of the batting order.
His recent performances have helped stabilize a lineup that struggled for consistency during stretches of the previous season.
Important Road Series Win For Los Angeles
The series win carried extra importance for the Angels.
Los Angeles had not won a series in Cincinnati since June 2007 and entered the weekend searching for momentum early in the season.
The combination of strong starting pitching and improved situational hitting gave the club one of its most complete series performances so far this year.
Soriano’s emergence at the top of the rotation also continues to reshape expectations for the Angels moving forward.
If the offense can maintain consistent production behind him, Los Angeles could remain competitive in the American League race longer than many expected.
Up Next
The Angels continue their road trip Monday night with left-hander Yusei Kikuchi scheduled to start against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. New York is expected to counter with right-hander Will Warren.
The Reds travel west to begin a road series against the San Francisco Giants, with Brady Singer expected to take the mound against Robbie Ray.
