The Angels squandered a great outing by Tyler Chatwood and their anemic offense could not take advantage of any scoring opportunities leaving the door open for Billy Butler in the bottom of the ninth. Scott Downs left a 3-1 fastball out over the plate and Butler deposited it into the left field seats for his first career walk-off home run.
Butler’s blast was originally called a double, as it appeared to have hit off of the top of the left field wall. But upon video review by the umpiring crew, was correctly called a home run giving the Royals the 2-0 win. Wednesday’s victory also gave the Royals their second series win of the season over the Angels.
Chatwood pitched the best game of his young career, going 7.2 shutout innings, allowing just 5 hits, 2 strike outs and 2 walks. Downs (3-2) relieved Chatwood in the eighth after Chris Getz reached third with two outs. Alex Gordon walked, but Downs was able to get Melky Cabrera to fly out to right to end the threat.
The Angels twice had the bases loaded, but both times the offense was unable to get a run across the plate. After loading the bases in the third with no one out, Felipe Paulino struck out Bobby Abreu swinging and Torii Hunter grounded into this league-leading 15th double play to end the inning.
In the eighth inning, Tim Collins (3-2), the fourth Royals pitcher of the inning got Alberto Callaspo to ground out to short, once again ending another Halo score chance.
The loss drops the Angels back to .500 for the season, two games behind the division-leading Texas Ranger who had shutout the Rays in Tampa earlier today.