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Royals again use late heroics to down Angels

Apr 2, 2011 - 10:55 PM Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Matt Treanor and Chris Getz hit RBI singles in the bottom of the eighth, lifting the Royals to a 5-4 victory over the Angels at Kauffman Stadium.

Kansas City scored the decisive runs off Kevin Jepsen (0-1) with two outs in the inning, and grabbed another victory thanks to late heroics. The Royals won Friday's matchup, 2-1, when Kila Ka'aihue led off the bottom of the ninth with a homer.

Getz finished with three hits and two RBI for Kansas City, which will close this season-opening four-game series Sunday. Aaron Crow (1-0) picked up his first career victory by tossing 1 2/3 scoreless relief innings, while Joakim Soria threw a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save of 2011.

"It's been a whirlwind here the first few days here, but it's great to have an opportunity like this," Crow said. "Hopefully I'll stay around a long time and get a lot more (wins)."

Erick Aybar doubled twice and drove in a run for the Angels, who got a homer from Torii Hunter.

Los Angeles starter Ervin Santana limited the Royals to three runs in 6 2/3 innings, helping his team hold the lead after Kansas City's Kyle Davies gave up four runs in 5 1/3.

But the Royals stormed back in the eighth, which Billy Butler began with a base hit. Jeff Francoeur singled to put two on with one out, and Wilson Betemit grounded into a fielder's choice to leave runners on the corners.

Treanor then singled to right to tie the game, and Getz's hit to center plated pinch-runner Jarrod Dyson. It was the second consecutive rough outing for Jepsen, who walked two and gave up a homer in Thursday's game.

"Right now, obviously Kevin's not off to the start that we're looking for, for a guy who's so important to us," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. "He needs to get his feet on the ground."

Soria retired Los Angeles' 2-4 hitters -- Howie Kendrick, Bobby Abreu and Hunter -- to end the game.

Hunter blasted a solo shot to left-center in the fourth to open the scoring, and the Royals took a 2-1 edge in the fifth. With the bases loaded and one out, Getz hit an infield single, and Alcides Escobar grounded into a fielder's choice to get another run in.

Back-to-back RBI hits from Vernon Wells and Alberto Callaspo put the Angels back in front in the sixth, and Aybar plated a run later in the inning on a fielder's choice grounder.

The Royals scored a run on a wild pitch in the bottom half, making it a 4-3 game.

Game Notes

Santana allowed seven hits, walked two and struck out six...Davies gave up seven hits, walked two and fanned two...Kendrick and Callaspo both had two hits for LA...Butler, Francoeur and Escobar had two hits each for Kansas City.