Reds 7, Angels 3 — Losing Streak Exorcised, Baseball Joy Restored (Toss Boss Cut)

Alright, gather ‘round. The Cincinnati Reds finally won a baseball game again, 7–3 over the Angels, and I’d like to personally congratulate the team for remembering they’re allowed to do that.

Three-game losing streak? Gone. Vanished. Evicted. Put on I-75 with a one-way ticket and a “don’t text me” attached.

First inning: The Reds said “We’re not doing this today”

Bottom of the 1st, the Reds came out swinging like they’d just read the comments section.

• Friedl strikes out (fine, we’ll allow it)

• Steer walks

• Elly De La Cruz singles, and Steer ends up on third

• Elly steals second, because gravity doesn’t apply to him

• Stewart hits an infield single and Steer scores

• E. Suarez walks

• Then Nate Lowe rips a double that basically screamed: “Everybody get in the car. We’re scoring.”

Boom: 4–0. That inning was so satisfying it should come with a warning label for Angels fans.

Second inning: Spencer Steer hits the “enough of this” button

In the 2nd, Steer homers to make it 5–0, and I’m not saying the ball had a family, but it definitely doesn’t anymore.

Steer is quietly becoming that guy who shows up to the party, says nothing, then wins the whole thing.

Angels respond: “Wait, we’re on TV”

The Angels finally wake up:

• They scratch one in the 3rd.

• Then in the 4th, Mike Trout doubles in two because Mike Trout is basically a baseball cheat code with good manners.

Suddenly it’s 5–3, and every Reds fan does that thing where you stare into the middle distance and whisper, “Don’t you dare.”

Bullpen time: No chaos, just receipts

The Reds bullpen came in and chose professionalism:

• P. Johnson: 1.1 innings, 3 Ks, no earned runs.

  
  

  That’s not pitching, that’s a firm handshake and a “we’re done here.”

• Ashcraft and Santillan: handled the middle innings cleanly.

• Pagán: closed it out like he had dinner reservations.

No late-inning circus. No “why is the tying run always on deck?” Just clean outs. I almost didn’t recognize us.

Eighth inning: Angels pitching turns into a slapstick comedy

Now the 8th inning… whew.

The Angels started throwing wild pitches like they were trying to hit a mosquito behind the catcher. Marte and Friedl both scored on them.

That wasn’t “small ball.” That was “the other team is actively helping and we’re being polite enough to accept.”

7–3 Reds, thank you very much.

Toss Boss wrap-up

This win had everything:

• Early offense

• A Steer bomb

• Elly being Elly (aka: a problem for pitchers and a blessing for our eyeballs)

• Bullpen stability (I know, I’m shocked too)

• And an Angels pitching meltdown that deserves its own highlight reel titled: “Oops! All Wild Pitches.”

Final: Reds 7, Angels 3.Losing streak: snapped.Vibes: back. My blood pressure: negotiable again.