KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Mike Trout and Albert Pujols hit solo home runs, and Mark Trumbo hit a two-run shot to help the Los Angeles Angels beat the Kansas City Royals 5-4 Thursday night.
Joe Blanton got his first victory of the season after going 0-7 in his first nine starts. He held the Royals to seven hits and two runs in 6 1-3 innings. Trumbo put the Angels up 5-2 in the eighth with his team-leading 11th homer.
Ervin Santana (3-4), who spent 12 seasons in the Angels’ organization before being traded during the offseason to the Royals, struck out eight without a walk, but allowed five runs and eight hits four of which were homers. Chris Iannetta hit one in the fifth.
The Royals scored on ground outs by Alex Gordon and Mike Moustakas early, and would pull within 5-4 in the bottom of the 9th with George Kottaras’ RBI single. But, Alcides Escobar would fly out to end the game.