Anaheim, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Yordano Ventura struck out seven and mixed
it up with reigning AL MVP Mike Trout before leaving another start early and
the Kansas City Royals beat the Los Angeles Angels 9-2 on Sunday to complete a
three-game sweep and continue their best start in 12 years.
Ventura (2-0) allowed two runs, four hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings but
left after developing a cramp in his right leg. A right thump cramp forced him
out of the game after seven innings on opening day against the White Sox.
The young right-hander jawed with Trout twice in the sixth inning, first after
giving up a single to the star outfielder and then again after Trout scored
a run.
The benches and bullpens emptied during the second altercation, but no punches
were thrown and the situation was resolved in a matter of minutes.
Alcides Escobar and Alex Rios hit two-run doubles and Escobar finished with
three RBI for the Royals, who improved to 6-0 for the first time since going
9-0 in 2003.
Salvador Perez added a solo homer and two RBI and rookie Paulo Orlando hit two
triples and scored three runs in the win.
Albert Pujols hit a solo homer for the Angels, who fell to 2-4.
C.J. Wilson (1-1) took the loss, allowing seven runs — six earned — on nine
hits and a walk. He was coming off eight shutout innings in a 2-0 win over
Seattle last Tuesday, when he retired the final 17 batters he faced.
Pujols hit his second homer of the season in the first inning, but the Royals
rallied for four runs in the second, starting with three consecutive singles
by Kendrys Morales, Rios and Perez, who knocked in the first run. The rally
was punctuated by Escobar’s two-run double.
Rios added a two-run double in the fifth and Orlando scored on Escobar’s
sacrifice fly after leading off the sixth with a triple.
After Trout singled in the sixth, he and Ventura appeared to exchange words as
Trout stood on first base. He scored later on Pujols’ double and turned toward
Ventura, who was backing up home plate on the play.
The second exchange lasted only a moment before Ventura was dragged away from
the scene by Perez, the catcher, but players from both teams still rushed the
field.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia said he didn’t know what it was all about.
“For some reason Ventura was getting in his face about something,” Scioscia
said. “It’s not on Mike. Mike is just playing baseball.”
The Royals scored twice in the seventh to take a 9-2 lead on Perez’s third
homer of the season and Omar Infante’s RBI double.
Game Notes
Kansas City had 14 hits … Orlando was the first Royals player to hit two
triples in a game since John Buck against Toronto on April 30, 2009 … Kansas
City remains on the road to start a three-game series against Minnesota on
Monday … The Angels start a six-game road trip on Monday against Texas.
