Jorge Soler’s Grand Slam Leads Angels to Win Against the Reds
CINCINNATI — Jorge Soler propelled the Los Angeles Angels to a decisive 10-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night, marking an end to their seven-game losing streak at Great American Ball Park. The highlight of the game was Soler’s grand slam during a five-run eighth inning, complemented by home runs from Zach Neto and Josh Lowe.
Jack Kochanowicz earned his second win of the season, allowing just one run and two hits over seven innings. Soler set the tone early, hitting a two-out double in the third inning before scoring on an infield single by Yoan Moncada, giving the Angels a 2-0 lead.
Neto’s fifth home run of the season extended the Angels’ lead to 4-0. Josh Lowe, who had struggled at the plate with a .091 batting average, also added to the scoreboard with a homer over the left-field wall in the sixth inning, pushing the score to 5-1.
The victory improved the Angels’ record to .500 or better after 14 games for the sixth consecutive season, and for the eighth time in nine years. Cincinnati’s Chase Burns suffered the loss, giving up five earned runs and seven hits over 5⅓ innings.
Young star Sal Stewart, who had been leading all rookies with 16 hits prior to this game, was held to an 0-for-3 performance against the Angels. Eugenio Suárez accounted for Cincinnati’s only hits through the fourth inning, while Elly De La Cruz hit his fourth home run of the season in the ninth inning.
The last time the Angels triumphed in Cincinnati was on April 1, 2013, in the first interleague opening day game in MLB history.
Looking ahead, the Angels will send right-hander George Klassen, who took a no-decision in his major league debut on April 5, to face off against Cincinnati’s left-hander Brandon Williamson, who earned his first major league victory on April 6.
