Cincinnati Reds vs Los Angeles Angels Box Score on Aug 23, 2023

Matt McLain completed a spectacular homecoming trip with a two-run homer and three RBIs to lead the visiting Cincinnati Reds to a 7-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night, completing a doubleheader and three-game series sweep in Anaheim, Calif.

McLain, an Orange County native who starred at nearby UCLA, scored five times in the two games Wednesday and homered twice in the three-game set. Another Southern California native, Spencer Steer, went 5-for-10 in Cincinnati's three-game sweep of the Angels.

The Reds completed their first sweep of a doubleheader of nine-inning games since July 8, 2014, and their first nine-inning doubleheader sweep on the road since June 5, 1999. They also improved to 29-12 in their past 41 road games.

Two pitches after fouling a ball off his right heel, Cincinnati's TJ Friedl led off the fourth inning with a triple. Two pitches after that, Tyler Stephenson blasted a two-run homer that ignited a three-run inning off Los Angeles starter and loser Reid Detmers (3-10), putting Cincinnati ahead for good 4-1.

The Angels lost for the 16th time in 21 games in August.

In Wednesday's first game, Elly De La Cruz hit a three-run homer, tripled and drove in a career-high six runs to lead the Reds to a 9-4 win.

After leaving the first game as the starting pitcher in the second inning with right arm fatigue, Shohei Ohtani returned in the second game as the designated hitter, going 1-for-5 with a double and run.

Rookie right-hander Lyon Richardson made his second spot start of the season for Cincinnati in the nightcap and had a much better experience than his major league debut on Aug. 6 vs. Washington.

That day in Cincinnati, Richardson was tagged for four runs and four hits over just three innings, allowing a pair of home runs and taking the loss.

On Wednesday night, he allowed three runs and four hits over 4 1/3 innings. Richardson was in line for the win but couldn't get out of the fifth inning. A one-out single by Nolan Schanuel was followed by an Ohtani double, ending Richardson's night.

Sam Moll replaced Richardson and surrendered a two-run single to Luis Rengifo to cut Cincinnati's lead to 4-3.

Lucas Sims (4-3) relieved Moll in the sixth and earned the win by pitching out of a one-out, two-on jam. Two innings later, the Reds put the game away with a Noelvi Marte run-scoring groundout and McClain's two-run homer.

Detmers allowed four runs on seven hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out three.

--Field Level Media