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Hunter, Mathis homer as Angels down Royals in season opener

Apr 1, 2011 - 1:31 AM Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Torii Hunter and Jeff Mathis homered to back a shut-down start by Jered Weaver, and the Angels held on to beat the Royals, 4-2, in their season opener.

Weaver (1-0) pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings, in which he allowed only two hits and two walks. He took a no-hitter into the fourth inning and finished with six strikeouts.

"Weav gave us everything you could ask for, especially his first start of the season putting us that deep into a game," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. "That really set the tone and we were fortunate at the end."

Erick Aybar added an RBI double for Los Angeles, which went 80-82 last year -- its first losing season since 2003.

On the other hand, 2003 was the last time Kansas City had a winning season, and the Royals enter 2011 trying to snap their streak of sub-.500 years.

They signed Jeff Francoeur and Melky Cabrera in the offseason to help, and the moves paid off Thursday. Francoeur homered, while Cabrera went 3-for-4 with a walk.

Mike Aviles also homered for the Royals, but Luke Hochevar (0-1) gave up four runs (three earned) in 5 2/3 innings to take the loss.

"[Weaver will] probably win a Cy Young before it's all said and done," Francoeur said. "But we put up some decent at-bats. It's just one game."

After three scoreless innings, Hunter opened the fourth with a blast to center. Vernon Wells -- who the Angels acquired from Toronto in the offseason -- followed with a double, then scored on Aybar's double to right to make it a 2-0 game.

Mathis pulled a two-out solo shot to left in the sixth. Peter Bourjos followed with an infield single, then moved up two bases on errors by Hochevar and Chris Getz.

Maicer Izturis's base hit to center plated Bourjos, and that was all the lead the Angels required.

Hisanori Takahashi entered for Weaver with one down in the seventh and retired one batter, but then allowed Francoeur's homer and back-to-back singles by Alcides Escobar and Matt Treanor. However, Jordan Walden squelched the Royals' rally by striking out pinch-hitter Wilson Betemit.

Kansas City put together potential scoring chances in the following two innings, but couldn't get a big return.

Aviles opened the eighth with a homer off Kevin Jepsen for the Royals, who had the bases loaded with one out later in the inning. However, Michael Kohn struck out Francoeur and retired Escobar to keep it a 4-2 contest.

The Royals then had runners on the corners with two away in the ninth, but Fernando Rodney fanned Alex Gordon to secure the win and the save.

Game Notes

Both teams left 10 on base...The Angels' Dan Haren and Royals' Jeff Francis are set to start Friday's game...LA won the season series in 2010, 7-3. It has also won 10 of its last 12 in Kansas City.