CINCINNATI (Interstat) — The Los Angeles Angels, defying pregame projections and capitalizing on a dominant start from Jack Kochanowicz and a late offensive explosion, routed the Cincinnati Reds 10-2 on Friday night at Great American Ball Park.

The Angels, who were given just a 37.1 percent chance to win by statistical models, improved to .500 at 7-7, while the Reds fell to 8-6. The game’s total of 12 runs sailed over the pregame over/under line of 9.5.

The most important sequence of the game arrived in the top of the eighth inning, transforming a comfortable lead into a decisive blowout. Leading 4-1, the Angels loaded the bases with one out against reliever Kyle Nicolas on a walk to Logan O’Hoppe, a walk to Adam Frazier and a single by Zach Neto. Mike Trout worked a bases-loaded walk to force in a run, making it 5-1. After a strikeout, designated hitter Jorge Soler stepped in and demolished a 2-1 offering, sending a grand slam soaring to left-center field. The four-run blast, Soler’s fourth homer of the year, broke the game wide open at 9-1 and sent a crowd of 22,357 toward the exits.

Soler’s slam was the exclamation point on a night built by Kochanowicz’s efficiency. The Angels’ right-hander delivered seven strong innings, allowing just two hits and one earned run. He walked three and struck out two, expertly navigating a Reds lineup that managed only a sacrifice groundout by TJ Friedl in the fifth inning against him. Kochanowicz improved to 2-0 and continued a bounce-back trend after a rough season opener, having now allowed just one earned run over his last 12 2/3 innings.

The Angels methodically built their early lead against Reds starter Chase Burns, who took the loss to fall to 1-1. They plated a run in the second on a bases-loaded walk by Frazier, scored again in the third on an RBI single by Yoán Moncada, and added two in the fourth on a two-run homer by Neto, his fifth of the season. Josh Lowe added a solo shot in the sixth, his second, to make it 4-1.

Cincinnati’s offense was stifled throughout. Beyond Friedl’s RBI groundout, their only other run came on a solo home run by Elly De La Cruz off reliever Mitch Farris in the eighth inning. The Reds mustered only four hits total, with Eugenio Suárez collecting two singles.

The Angels’ bullpen, after Kochanowicz’s departure, closed the door. Farris finished the final two innings, surrendering the De La Cruz homer and a single while striking out two.

Offensively for Los Angeles, Soler’s grand slam highlighted a 2-for-5, four-RBI night. Neto went 2-for-5 with a homer and two RBIs, Moncada reached base four times with two hits and two walks, and Lowe also had two hits, including his homer. Frazier walked three times and scored twice.

For the Reds, reliever Connor Phillips provided a bright spot with 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, striking out three. P.J. Higgins also pitched a perfect inning.

The victory snaps a two-game skid for the Angels, who were coming off consecutive losses to Atlanta. The Reds have now dropped three straight after being swept in Miami.

The two teams continue their three-game series Saturday at Great American Ball Park.