SEATTLE — When Cincinnati Reds rookie Sal Stewart checked into the team’s Seattle hotel Sunday night, he wasn’t sure how to operate the blinds on the window.Stewart first called teammate Nick Lodolo, but Lodolo didn’t answer. Then Stewart called someone he knew would answer: veteran starter Brady Singer.“I could text him at any point of the day, and he answers,” Stewart said of Singer, who not only picked up when Stewart called, but also told him how to operate the blinds.Stewart repaid Singer on Wednesday with a three-run home run in the seventh inning to lead the Reds to a 5-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners and help deliver Singer his fifth win of the season.Sal Stewart has feasted on fastballs during his fast start for the RedsDerek VanRiper, Eno Sarris & Jed LowrieSinger’s reliability — not just for answering rookies’ questions about window coverings — has been his calling card for most of his big-league career. He’s made at least 24 starts in each of his five previous seasons and has logged more than 150 innings in the last four.“What we love that he does is he posts every five days, and when he’s going, you look up in the sixth or seventh, and you generally have a chance to win,” Reds manager Terry Francona said. “He’s not going to wow you with throwing it (100 mph), but he takes a lot of pride in taking the ball. And there’s a lot to be said for that.”The Reds traded for Singer after the 2024 season to do exactly what he’s done — be a steady influence on the team’s young starters and to take the ball every five days.An impending free agent, Singer is the type of pitcher that every team can use: a solid starter who will pitch without complaint and, more often than not, give his team a chance to win the game.Over the last six weeks, though, he’s been more than that. Since June 1, Singer has made nine starts and gone 2-3 with a 2.94 ERA. He has 52 strikeouts and 16 walks over 52 1/3 innings in that timeframe.Wednesday, Singer allowed three runs on six hits with six strikeouts and a walk in 6 2/3 innings. It was his third consecutive quality start, his best streak since a career-best nine last August and September.Wednesday’s start came after a dominant outing in Denver to open the second half. Against the Colorado Rockies, Singer had nine swings-and-misses on his sweeper and got three strikeouts on the pitch. Wednesday in Seattle, he threw just nine sweepers in total, but found success with his slider. He got seven whiffs and two strikeouts on the pitch against the Mariners.“We kind of just overlay both of them — we think about a shorter one at this time might be better, or a bigger sweeper like that (in Colorado),” Singer said. “But I like throwing both of them. They both work kind of off each other and (catcher Tyler Stephenson) does a great job of calling them in good spots.”Last year Singer was a rock in the rotation as the Reds battled back over the final month to reach the playoffs. This year he’s battled a blister on his finger out of spring training and at least two batted balls off of his body. Singer has pitched through it all, stone-faced and uncomplaining, even when a comebacker earlier this year left an imprint of its stitches on his leg. Singer’s stoicism is such a staple that during a postgame interview Wednesday, his teammates caught him smiling and started shouting in the background.“We got him smiling on camera!” reliever Pierce Johnson shouted before Singer went back to his regular deadpan.“I feel good,” Singer said. “The arm feels good. Body feels great. But I’m just trying to go out there and give us a chance and feel good where I am right now.”Singer will turn 30 on Aug. 4, the day after the trade deadline. At 47-54, the Reds are sellers as the deadline approaches, and Singer is one of several players on expiring contracts who could get moved, along with Stephenson, first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, third baseman Eugenio Suárez and left-handed relievers Brock Burke and Caleb Ferguson.Singer has postseason experience, pitching out of the Kansas City Royals’ bullpen in 2024. For most playoff teams, Singer may not crack the postseason rotation, but he’ll help them get there.“Brady’s awesome,” Stewart said after Wednesday’s game. “He’s been clutch for us. I’m happy that I was able to give him that boost if he needed it, but he was looking too sharp, so he didn’t need anything. I’m just happy that we got the win.”