After offensive barrage, Angels vie for another win over Reds

The Los Angeles Angels showed signs of busting out of their offensive malaise in the opener Friday of a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds.

Cincinnati did little in that regard.

Fresh off crushing three homers, the Angels will look to secure a series victory over the Reds on Saturday afternoon when the teams reconvene in Cincinnati.

Jorge Soler hit his third career grand slam, Zach Neto launched a two-run homer, and Josh Lowe also went deep in Los Angeles' 10-2 romp on Friday.

Yoan Moncada had an RBI single and reached base four times in the series opener after going 0-for-15 with 11 strikeouts in his previous five games.

"He's got a track record," Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said of Moncada, a switch hitter. "Last year, left-handed he put up some really good numbers (an .815 OPS). Sometimes you see guys have slow starts. We played Seattle, and (Cal) Raleigh and (Julio) Rodriguez. Those guys aren't going to hit .100 the whole season. If guys have track records, you give them a longer leash."

Adam Frazier reached base four times and joined Mike Trout in working a bases-loaded walk to help Los Angeles snap a two-game losing streak.

"Frazier's earned (the start on Friday)," Suzuki said. "I feel like he deserves it. He brings a different element to the lineup."

The Angels mustered just two runs in each of their previous two games -- both losses.

Los Angeles right-hander George Klassen (0-0, 6.75 ERA) will start on Saturday, opposing Cincinnati left-hander Brandon Williamson (1-1, 4.76)

Klassen, 24, will look for a better performance after allowing two runs on three hits with five walks over 2 2/3 innings in his major league debut Sunday against the Seattle Mariners. The Angels won 8-7 in 11 innings.

In defense of Klassen, he learned he was making the start at 11 p.m. on the previous night due to Ryan Johnson's illness. This time, Klassen will have had almost a week to prepare for his next start.

"Definitely a lot more comfortable," he said, per The Orange County Register. "With my teammates, the environment, the travel, all that. Definitely have a little more time to prepare, so excited for that."

Williamson responded from a disastrous season debut vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 31 (six runs in 4 2/3 innings) by scattering three hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings in a 2-0 victory over the Miami Marlins on Monday.

"I was on attack mode when I was pitching, and I felt physically and mentally (like) I was in a good space to play offense. ‘Here it is, try and hit it,'" he said.

Williamson, 28, has yet to face the Angels in his career.

Elly De La Cruz hit a solo homer in the eighth inning and Eugenio Suarez had two of the four hits Friday for the Reds, who have mustered only seven runs during a three-game losing streak. All told, Cincinnati has just 41 runs in 14 games this season.

"I told them today that as long as they don't feel sorry for themselves, and they don't, we'll figure this out together," Reds manager Terry Francona said. "They're good workers. Great kids. Great teammates. You've got to plug away. We will. I fully believe guys get to their level as long as they're healthy."

--Field Level Media