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Angels resume set with Royals at Kauffman Stadium

May 31, 2011 - 3:01 PM (Sports Network) - The Kansas City Royals will have a new closer on the hill this evening should they be in a position to win the second test of a three- game series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Kauffman Stadium.

The Royals carried a one-run lead into the ninth inning in Monday's opener only to see former All-Star closer Joakim Soria blow his second save in as many days, as he surrendered a go-ahead two-run home run to Torii Hunter in the Angels' 10-8 triumph.

Hunter's home run was his second of the game, and gave him 1,000 RBI for his career.

Soria also gave up the game-winning run in Sunday's loss to the Texas Rangers and has three blown saves this week and a career-high five on the season. After the game Kansas City manager Ned Yost announced that Aaron Crow would replace Soria as the team's closer for the time being.

"We've gotten to a point where we'll back Jack off," Yost said. "We'll give him a break, with a sense of getting him back to the closer's role, but getting him in situations where maybe he can throw multiple innings in less pressure situations."

Kevin Jepsen (1-2) tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up his first win of the year for the Angels. LA starter Ervin Santana tossed six innings, giving up six runs on seven hits while striking out five and walking four.

Eric Hosmer picked up two hits, including his fifth home run of the season and a career high-tying four RBI for the Royals, who have lost three in a row, eight of nine and 13 of 16.

Over its last nine games, Kansas City's bullpen is 1-6 with a 4.31 ERA.

Heading to the hill for the Angels tonight will be righty Joel Pineiro, who is 2-1 with a 3.15 ERA. Pineiro was charged with the loss on Thursday against Oakland, as the Athletics reached him for four runs and 11 hits in 6 1/3 frames. His next win will be the 100th of his career.

Pineiro is 5-4 lifetime against the Royals with a 3.82 ERA in 14 games, 10 of which have been starts.

Kansas City, meanwhile, will turn to lefty Jeff Francis, who is just 1-5 with a 4.52 ERA. Francis failed to follow up his first win of the season his last time out, as he received a no-decision in Baltimore on Thursday, surrendering five runs and nine hits in six innings of his team's 6-5 loss.

Francis did not get a decision against the Angels at the start of the year and has yet to record one against them in three starts, but has pitched to a 2.70 ERA in those outings. In his April 1 start he allowed a run and five hits in seven innings.

Kansas City took three of four from the Angels to open the year.