Angels Vs. Royals: Kansas City Takes Rubber Match On Two Two-Run Blasts

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim lost the rubber match of a three game series with the Kansas City Royals today, 7-3 the final score. Starting pitcher Ervin Santana now has a 7.94 era after his first start giving up two two-run home runs. The Angels trailed the entire game, giving up three runs in the top of the first. Jonathan Sanchez picked up the win for the Royals.

With one out in the first inning, Alcides Escobar stole second best, and then was singled in by Eric Hosmer. Then Hosmer came in to score on Billy Butler's two run home run, his first home run of the year. The Angels did manage to get one back in the bottom of the first.

Howie Kendrick, standing on first base, made a smart play going first to third on a wild pitch to Albert Pujols the catcher couldn't corral in time. Pujols would ground out in that at bat, but he picked up an RBI as Kendrick came home. The Angels made it 3-2 with a Torii Hunter groundout with the bases loaded in the third inning.

The Royals pulled away again when Eric Hosmer hit his second home run of the year with Chris Getz on base. The two run shot, the second Santana would surrender on the day, put the Angels up 5-2 and knocked Santana out of the game.

It would be 7-2 Royals by the 8th inning, and the Angels were able to get one back in the bottom of the 8th making it 7-3.

The Angels made a good run of it in the bottom of the 9th, with Albert Pujols and Howie Kendrick getting on base, but Jonathan Broxton was brought in to shut the door and he was able to do just that. The former Dodger came in and threw strikes, the Angels just couldn't put them in play.

LA now goes on a two series road trip, returning to the Big A a week from Monday. The team will go to Minnesota and then on to New York.

For more on the Angels, check out Halos Heaven.

Angels Vs. Royals Final Score: Dan Haren Roughed Up In 6-3 Halos Loss

The Los Angeles Angels were hoping to pick up back-to-back wins to start their 2012 season, but things didn't quite work out that way. After falling behind early, the Halos were unable to overcome the deficit and ended up taking their first loss of the season, 6-3.

Angels starter Dan Haren was roughed up early, only lasting 5.1 innings while giving up five earned runs on 11 hits and a walk. Two of those hits were solo home runs, to Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas. Luke Hochevar had a better time on the hill for the Royals, shutting down the Angels before giving up two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Albert Pujols picked up his first hit as an Angel, hitting a double off Hochevar. Pujols also struck out once and stranded two while going 1-for-4. Bobby Abreu drove in a pair of runs, first with a double in the seventh and a sacrifice fly in the ninth. Vernon Wells drove in the other Angels run with a groundout RBI in the seventh.

For more news and notes on the Angels, be sure to read Halos Heaven. For updates and perspective regarding the Kansas City Royals, head on over to Royals Review.

Angels Vs. Royals Lineups: Albert Pujols Batting Third On Saturday

The Los Angeles Angels got off to a strong start on Friday evening by knocking off the Kansas City Royals by a score of 5-0. While Albert Pujols was held hitless, the Angels came through late with some clutch hitting. Combine the late heroics with a stellar pitching performance from Jared Weaver and it was a very promising start to 2012.

The two clubs will meet again for a Saturday matinee on FOX. Here are the lineups for both teams:

Angels:

Aybar SS
Kendrick 2B
Pujols 1B
Morales DH
Hunter RF
Abreu LF
Wells CF
Callaspo 3B
Wilson C

Haren P

Royals:

Gordon LF
Cain CF
Hosmer 1B
Butler DH
Francouer RF
Betancourt 2B
Moustakas 3B
Quintero C
Escobar SS

Hoch SP

Looking for something to watch for? Dan Haren, who has been picked by many to win the AL Cy Young, struck out 25 batters in Spring Training. He only walked two. The Royals lineup isn't a bad one, but all signs point to a very strong day for the righty.

First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. from Los Angeles.

For more on the Angels, head over to Halos Heaven. Royals fans should check out Royals Review.

Angels Vs. Royals Final Score: Halos Win 5-0, Albert Pujols Hitless In L.A. Debut

For the first seven innings of Friday night's season opener against the visiting Kansas City Royals, the Los Angeles Angels did not really look like the instant playoff threat many had hoped and perhaps assumed they would be. The Angels were shut down by Royals starter Bruce Chen before exploding for five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning thanks to key RBI hits by Peter Bourjos and Erick Aybar, the latter of which was a bases-clearing, three-run triple. Torii Hunter would bring Aybar home with a single and those five eight-inning runs would end up being the entirety of the scoring, as the Angels started the season with a 5-0 win.

The big story of the night, of course, was the regular season debut of new Angels slugger Albert Pujols. Pujols was greeting with rousing ovations in each of his four plate appearances, but ended up hitless. He lined into a double play in his first at-bat, struck out once and was intentionally walked in his final appearance in the big eighth inning.

Ace Jered Weaver was the bright spot for the Halos until the runs finally came, allowing only four hits on no runs in eight innings while striking out 10. Weaver and Scott Downs combined for the shutout.

For more news and notes on the Angels, be sure to read Halos Heaven. For updates and perspective regarding the Kansas City Royals, head on over to Royals Review.

Angels Vs. Royals: Opening Day Starting Lineups, Albert Pujols Debuts In Anaheim

The Los Angeles Angels begin their highly anticipated 2012 season by hosting the Kansas City Royals on opening day at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. American League Cy Young Award runner-up Jered Weaver takes the mound Friday night for the Angels, opposed by Bruce Chen for Kansas City.

Here are the starting lineups for opening day, which features the regular season debut of Albert Pujols in Anaheim. About Pujols batting third, manager Mike Scioscia told Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com before the game, "I wrote his name first, then filled out everybody else around him."

Royals

Gordon LF
Cain CF
Hosmer 1B
Butler DH
Francoeur RF
Betancourt 2B
Moustakas 3B
Pena C
Escobar SS

Angels

Aybar SS
Kendrick 2B
Pujols 1B
Hunter RF
Wells LF
Morales DH
Trumbo 3B
Iannetta C
Bourjos CF

For more news and notes on the Angels, be sure to read Halos Heaven. For updates and perspective regarding the Kansas City Royals, head on over to Royals Review.

Angels Vs. Royals Series Preview: The Pujols Era Officially Begins

On Friday, the Los Angeles Angels will open their 2012 season against the visiting Kansas City Royals. The expectations are through the roof for the Angels following the acquisition of Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson and they will hope to come out of the gate with guns blazing. They'll look to make an immediate statement as true favorites to take the American League West division title and perhaps a lot more.

Their opponents, by contrast, are not expected to set the world on fire, but the Royals have slowly been building a solid young core of players with an eye toward the future. The hitters to watch for Kansas City in this series are Alex Gordon and Billy Butler.

Here is the rundown for the series.

• Friday's game will begin at 7:05 p.m. at Angels Stadium and will air on FOX Sports West. You can listen to the radio broadcast on KLAA. The expected pitching matchup is Jered Weaver vs. Bruce Chen.
• Saturday's game will begin at 1:05 p.m.at Angels Stadium and will be televised nationally on FOX, so we may not receive this game locally. The radio broadcast will be on KLAA and KWKW. The pitching matchup will be Dan Haren vs. Luke Hochevar
• Sunday's first pitch will come at 12:35 p.m. at Angels Stadium and will be televised on FOX Sports West. This game wll be MLB.tv's free game of the day if you wanted to stream it, although it will be blacked out locally if you choose to go that route. KLAA will again have the radio broadcast. The starting pitchers will be Ervin Santana vs. Jonathan Sanchez

For more news and notes on the Angels, be sure to read Halos Heaven. For updates and perspective regarding the Kansas City Royals, head on over to Royals Review.

Angels Opening Day Roster: Alexi Amarista Makes Team

The Angels open their season Friday night against the Kansas City Royals in Anaheim.