Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Pinch-hitter Kendrys Morales hit a game-
tying homer in the eighth inning and Mike Trout scored the go-ahead run later
in the frame, as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim defeated the Kansas City
Royals, 9-7, on Friday in the opener of a three-game series.
Trout and Erick Aybar followed Morales' two-out, two-run blast with
consecutive singles before Tim Collins (5-3) hit Albert Pujols to load the
bases. Jeremy Jeffress then walked Torii Hunter on five pitches to push across
the go-ahead run.
Jordan Walden (3-2) recorded the final out of the seventh to earn the win and
Scott Downs stranded Jeff Francoeur at second base in the eighth
before Kole Calhoun's ninth-inning RBI groundout capped the scoring.
Ernesto Frieri held Kansas City off the board in the bottom half to pick up
his 19th save of the season.
Howie Kendrick had a two-run double and Alberto Callaspo singled home a pair
in the fourth inning for the Angels, who are 2 1/2 games behind the New York
Yankees for the final AL Wild Card spot.
Billy Bulter led off the second inning with his 100th career homer and Mike
Moustakas added a solo shot later in the frame for the Royals, who also got a
two-run blast from Francoeur in the sixth.
The Sports Network