For the sixth straight game, the Angels came up short as they drop the first game of the series to the Kansas City Royals Friday night by the score of 4-2. The 6-game losing streak is the longest of the season and drops the Angels to 6 games behind the division leading Texas Rangers.
During their current 6-game skid, the Halos have scored just 12 runs, and once again the Angels offense failed to support a good effort by their starting pitcher. Ervin Santana (3-6) went 7 innings, allowing 4 run on 7 hits, while striking out 5 and walking a season high five. Santana also surrendered home runs to Melky Cabrera and Billy Butler, and has given up two home runs in 5 of his last seven starts.
Making his third start of the season against the Angels, Jeff Francis (3-6) gave up two runs in 6.1 innings, striking out 3 and walking one. Joakim Soria pitched a perfect ninth to record his ninth save.
The Angel only threat came in the 6th when Howie Kendrick double to right-center scoring Torii Hunter. Bobby Abreu then followed with a base hit up the middle to score Kendrick. After a Vernon Wells single to left, Erick Aybar hit a ground ball past a diving Mike Moustakas, but Abreu was cut down at the plate on a perfect one-hop throw from Alex Gordon.