Stephenson hits 1st career grand slam, Fairchild drives in 2 as the Reds beat the Angels 7
CINCINNATI (AP) — Tyler Stephenson hit his first career grand slam in the first inning, Stuart Fairchild drove in two runs and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Los Angeles Angels 7-5 on Saturday night to take the first two games of the three-game interleague series.
Graham Ashcraft pitched into the sixth inning for the Reds, who were coming off a 7-1 win over the Angels on Friday night. The 26-year-old right-hander allowed all five Angels runs and five hits with four strikeouts and three walks.
Nick Martinez pitched three scoreless innings in relief, and Alexis Diaz got the Angels in order in the ninth for his third save of the season and 50th of his career.
The Reds jumped all over Angels starter Patrick Sandoval (1-3) in the first inning.
After giving up a run-scoring double to Stuart Fairchild, Sandoval walked Jeimer Candelario and Elly De La Cruz, sandwiched around a strikeout by Christian Encarnacion-Strand. That set up Stephenson’s bases-loaded shot to right field that came down on the bullpen roof just inside the foul pole.