The Reds bullpen came through, although Frankie Montas was limited to just two outs on the day before leaving with an injury. On Sunday afternoon, Cincinnati completed a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels with a 3-0 victory thanks to 8.1 shutout innings from five relievers combined.

Los Angeles Angels (9–13) in the finals061 Reds of Cincinnati (12-9)350W: Pagan (2-1)L: Sergian (0–3)SV: Diaz (4)Game Thread | Box Score | Statcast

When Taylor Ward hit Frankie Montas in the pitching arm with a ball that was lined back up the middle in the top of the first inning, things did not go well for the Reds. Despite needing to leave the game due to an injury, he was able to recuperate enough to play first base for the second out of the inning. He kept his arm against his body at a 90-degree angle as he left the mound for the dugout and didn’t move it the whole way to the clubhouse. Later on, it was revealed that the x-rays taken of his arm did not reveal any fractures.

With two outs and a runner on third base, Cincinnati had to insert Brent Suter into the game. Despite walking the first batter he saw, he managed to escape the jam unscathed. After that, Suter performed admirably, pitching 3.1 scoreless innings to keep the game scoreless into the fourth inning, during which the Reds were hitless.

Emilio Pagan took over for the Reds in the 5th inning and tossed two shutout innings to keep the Angels off of the board with some help from his defense in the 6th as Jeimer Candelario helped start an outstanding double play.

At that point, Cincinnati was still without a hit, but Elly De La Cruz’s single on a ball up the middle altered that. After reaching on an error by Nick Martini with two outs to extend the inning, Christian Encarnacion-Strand doubled to drive in two runs, proving that his error was a major one. After that, Mike Trout crashed with the wall and Jeimer Candelario tripled to center on a ball that slid off his glove, bringing the score to 3-0.

With a leadoff walk when he came into the game in the top of the seventh inning, Fernando Cruz found himself in a bit of trouble. He induced a grounder that turned into a force out, but a single followed to put two men on with one out, but he got a fly out and a strikeout to end the inning and hold onto the lead.

Lucas Sims took over in the 8th for the Reds and after winning an 11-pitch battle with Mike Trout, he got ahead of Taylor Ward 0-2 but couldn’t put him away and walked him. Resuming the shutout, he responded with a strikeout and a line out.

Needing three outs to complete the sweep, Cincinnati called on closer Alexis Diaz for the top of the 9th to face the bottom of the Angels lineup with a 3-0 lead. He would strike out Matt Thaiss to begin the frame, but then followed with a walk of Luis Rengifo. Diaz came back by getting a fly out to shallow left and a pop up on the infield to end the game and pick up the save.

Key Moment of the Game

Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s 2-run double off of the wall in the 6th inning to put the first runs of the game on the board.

Notes Worth Noting

The Reds bullpen stepped up and threw 8.1 shutout innings after Frankie Montas had to exit the game.

Elly De La Cruz remained hot, picking up two hits and a walk on the day. The two hits pushed his average up to .306 on the season.

Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds

Philadelphia Phillies vs Cincinnati Reds

Monday April 22nd, 6:40pm ET

Ranger Suarez (3-0, 1.73 ERA) vs Hunter Greene (0-1, 4.35 ERA)