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.