The Los Angeles Angels had plenty of opportunities to secure some runs, but stranded nine base runners in the process. Meanwhile, a couple of big hits by Salvador Perez helped the Kansas City Royals get a 6-1 win as the Angels lost their first series of the season and fell to 7-5 overall. The Halos also played their first game of the season without a home run.
Immediately, the bottom of the first was one of the strangest half-innings of the season. Andrew Benintendi hit a single, then stole second and eventually reached third on a throwing error by Anthony Bemboom. Griffin Canning then walked a batter, followed by a catcher’s interference by Bemboom to load the bases.
The inning ended when a Michael Taylor line drive hit a Royals base runner to get the third and final out, as Canning escaped without giving up a single run.
After two and a half scoreless innings, Perez continued his dominant series against the Angels by breaking the tie in the bottom of the third. A solo home run by the Royals catcher made it 1-0.
In the bottom of the fourth, Taylor got on base, then stole second. After back-to-back pop-ups, Taylor found his way home to extend the Royals lead to 2-0. Canning was able to get out of the inning with just the one run scored, but had already thrown 75 pitches.
The Angels had the heart of their order due up in the sixth, and made use of it. Trout singled, then got all the way home from first on a Walsh double down the right field line. Albert Pujols was hit by a pitch, giving the Angels runners on first and second with one out.
After Iglesias beat out a potential double play ball to put runners in the corners with two outs, Keller was taken out of the game and was replaced by Jake Brentz. Brentz was able to get Jose Rojas out via the fly ball, but the Angels cut the gap in half and made it 2-1.
In the seventh, Chris Rodriguez allowed a single to Whit Merrifield. Then, Perez came up big for the Royals yet again, hitting a double that brought Merrifield all the way home. The Royals extended their lead to 3-1.
Tony Watson was brought in for Rodriguez, and he immediately gave up a two-run home run to Carlos Santana as the Royals made it 5-1.
Ben Rowen was the pitcher in the eighth inning for the Angels. He had a prime opportunity for a double play, but a throwing error allowed a runner to advance to third. He was brought home by a Merrifield sac fly and the Royals continued to grow their lead to 6-1.
Tyler Zuber entered the game in the ninth for the Royals to get the final three outs. Rojas was the first batter he saw, and the first-year player got his first major league hit via a double to center field.
That was the Angels only hit of the ninth inning, as Zuber got three straight outs to end the game. The Royals won 6-1 and dropped the Angels to 7-5 after a 3-3 road trip.
Looking ahead
After an off day on Thursday, the Angels will be back at home this weekend for a three-game set against the Minnesota Twins. First pitch on Friday will be at 6:38 p.m., but neither the Angels nor the Twins have revealed their starting pitcher for the night.
