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Royals top Angels

Jun 11, 2011 - 5:27 AM Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Melky Cabrera and Billy Butler hit solo homers, as the Royals held off the Angels, 4-2, in the opener of a three-game series.

Alcides Escobar and Chris Getz drove in a run apiece for the Royals, who started a nine-game road trip on Friday.

Kansas City third baseman Mike Moustakas went 1-for-3 with a walk and run scored in his MLB debut. Moustakas, the second overall pick of the 2007 draft, hit .287 in 55 games at Triple-A this season with 10 homers and 44 RBI.

Jeff Francis (3-6) gave up two runs on eight hits over 6 1/3 innings to pick up the win. The veteran southpaw also struck out three and walked one.

"Jeff threw the ball great," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "He changed speeds effectively. He did a great job."

Bobby Abreu and Howie Kendrick both drove in a run for Los Angeles, which has lost six in a row.

Ervin Santana (3-6) allowed four runs on seven hits over seven full frames to suffer the loss. He also struck out five and walked five.

"It's going to take more than one guy to get the continuity we're looking for," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

Cabrera's homer to right in the first inning gave the Royals an early 1-0 lead.

Kansas City went ahead 2-0 on Butler's homer to left in the fourth.

The Angels' best chance to score early on came in the home fourth, when they put men on the corners with two outs. Erick Aybar grounded out to end the threat.

The Royals tacked on two more runs in the sixth to make it a 4-0 game. Butler walked and Moustakas singled to put men on the corners with nobody out. After Brayan Pena went down swinging, Getz plated a run with a single to right. Escobar followed with an RBI double to right.

LA was able to get two runs back in the home sixth. Torii Hunter reached base on a fielder's choice, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on Kendrick's double to right. Abreu then hit an RBI single up the middle to make it 4-2. Vernon Wells and Aybar followed with singles of their own. Abreu was thrown out at home while trying to score on Aybar's base hit. Mark Trumbo popped out to end the inning.

Greg Holland pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings and Joakim Soria tossed a perfect ninth to record his ninth save of the season.

Game Notes

The Royals lead the season series with the Angels, 6-2...Santana fell to 5-5 lifetime against Kansas City...The Angels have been outscored 25-12 over their losing streak and haven't scored more than three runs in nine straight games, going 1-8 in that span...LA has lost six in a row at home for the first time since April 8-13, 2002...The Royals designated pitcher Kevin Pucetas for assignment and optioned third baseman Mike Aviles to Triple-A Omaha to make room for Moustakas.