Soriano Makes History: Becomes MLB’s First 4-Game Winner with Dominant Outing in Cincinnati .v1

CINCINNATI – In the storied history of the Los Angeles Angels, few pitchers have commanded the mound with the sheer, unadulterated force displayed by José Soriano during the opening weeks of the 2026 season. On Sunday afternoon, at a sun-drenched Great American Ball Park, Soriano etched his name into the record books, becoming the first pitcher in Major League Baseball to reach the four-win mark this year. His dominant seven-inning masterpiece against the Cincinnati Reds didn’t just secure a victory; it solidified his status as the early-season frontrunner for the American League Cy Young Award.

Soriano (4-0) was nothing short of surgical. Over seven shutout frames, he dismantled one of the league’s fastest and most aggressive lineups, racking up 10 strikeouts while allowing just two hits. His sinker, which consistently touched 99 mph with late, biting life, induced a staggering 14 groundball outs, leaving the Reds’ hitters visibly frustrated. By the time he handed the ball to the bullpen in the eighth, Soriano had lowered his league-leading ERA to a microscopic 0.33.

The historical significance of Soriano’s start cannot be overstated. He is the first Angels pitcher since Jered Weaver in 2011 to win his first four starts of a season. However, Soriano’s run feels even more improbable given the context. He has stepped into a “Rotation Crisis” that saw Grayson Rodriguez and Ben Joyce sidelined early, transforming from a high-upside project into the undisputed anchor of the staff.

“I’ve seen a lot of great pitching, but what José is doing right now is special,” manager Kurt Suzuki said in the post-game press conference. “He’s found a rhythm where he’s not just throwing; he’s pitching. He’s attacking the zone, he’s trusting his stuff, and he’s giving us a chance to win every time he touches the rubber. When you have a guy like that at the top of the rotation, it settles the whole clubhouse down.”

The secret to Soriano’s 2026 breakout appears to be a refined grip on his slider, which he used effectively on Sunday to keep the Reds off-balance. By tunneling the slider off his high-velocity sinker, he has created a “guessing game” that few hitters have been able to solve. As the team boards their flight to New York, Soriano remains the talk of the baseball world—a fireballer who has finally mastered the art of the craft.