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Kendrick helps Angels edge Royals

Jun 12, 2011 - 5:09 AM Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Howie Kendrick went 3-for-4 with two RBI, including a run-scoring single in the seventh inning, to lift the Angels over the Royals, 7-5, in the second test of a three-game series.

Erick Aybar drove in three runs for Los Angeles, which snapped a six-game skid. The Angels had failed to score more than three runs in their previous nine games.

LA starter Joel Pineiro gave up five runs -- four earned -- on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings. Scott Downs (4-2) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief to pick up the win.

Mike Moustakas hit his first-career homer for the Royals, who had a brief two- game winning streak snapped. Alex Gordon, Melky Cabrera and Matt Treanor each drove in a run.

Felipe Paulino remained winless on the young season, allowing five runs -- two earned -- on seven hits over five full frames. Tim Collins (3-3) gave up two runs in 1 1/3 innings to suffer the loss.

With the score tied at five, the Angels scored twice in the seventh to take the lead. Collins gave up consecutive one-out walks to Torii Hunter and Bobby Abreu. Aaron Crow was called in from the bullpen and immediately threw a wild pitch to put men on second and third. Vernon Wells then hit a sharp grounder to third, which resulted in Hunter being caught in a rundown between third and home. Hunter's ability to prolong the rundown allowed Abreu to move to third.

Crow followed with a wild pitch that brought Abreu home. Alberto Callaspo was intentionally walked to put men on first and second. The runners then pulled off a double steal, but Callaspo injured his left hamstring on the steal. Mark Trumbo came on as a pinch-runner. Kendrick followed with an RBI single that deflected off the foot of Crow. Aybar struck out swinging to end the inning, but not before LA took a 7-5 lead.

"We had some clutch hits," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

Kansas City made things interesting in the ninth. Jordan Walden quickly gave up a single to Gordon and a double to Cabrera. Walden stuck out the next two batters before getting Billy Butler to fly out for his 14th save of the season.

"We gave ourselves a chance with two on in the ninth but we couldn't get it done," Royals outfielder Jeff Francoeur said. "There's a reason why Walden is their closer."

The Angels jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second inning. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Aybar cleared the bases with a triple to right. Aybar scored three batters later on Maicer Izturis' sac fly.

KC put a two-spot on the board in the third. Chris Getz crossed the plate on a passed ball and Gordon plated another run when he grounded out.

Kendrick responded with an RBI infield single in the home third to make it 5-2.

But the Royals slowly chipped away at their deficit. Moustakas, playing in his second game in the big leagues, hit a solo homer to right-center field in the fourth.

Cabrera recorded an RBI single in the fifth and Treanor did the same in the sixth to make it a 5-5 game.

Kansas City almost took the lead in the seventh. Cabrera led off with a single off Kevin Jepsen and moved to second on Eric Hosmer's groundout. Cabrera tried to score on a single to right by Francoeur, but Hunter's strong throw home was on the money. Downs got Moustakas to go down swinging to keep it a tie game.

Game Notes

The Royals lead the season series with the Angels, 6-3...Pineiro is stuck on 99 career wins...The Angels were outscored 25-12 during their losing streak...LA avoided its first seven-game home losing streak since April 3-13, 2002.