ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Andrew Benintendi, Salvador Perez and Hunter Dozier homered, Nicky Lopez drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and the Kansas City Royals defeated the Los Angeles Angels 6-2 Monday night in the opener of a three-game series.
Kris Bubic, who came into the game as one of four pitchers in the majors to have at least eight starts and no wins this season, struck out a season-high seven in six innings for his first victory, improving to 1-4.
Taylor Ward had two hits — including a homer in the third inning — and drove in both runs for the Angels. Los Angeles had come in with some momentum after taking four of five in Seattle, but managed only seven hits.
Noah Syndergaard worked into the eighth inning for only the second time in 11 starts, but struggled at the end. Syndergaard (4-6) allowed five runs on eight hits in 7 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out five and walked two.
Bubic went six innings and gave up two runs on six hits and walked two.
The game was tied at 2 when Dozier singled to center to lead off the seventh. He stole second and came home when Lopez lined a double to right.
Benintendi and Perez both had two-run shots as the Royals won for the fourth time in five games.
Whit Merrifield led off the game with a base hit before Benintendi drove a 94.6 mph fastball from Syndergaard into the seats in right-center to give the Royals a 2-0 lead four pitches into the game. Benintendi finished with two hits after he went 5 for 23 during the first six games of the road trip.
Perez chased Syndergaard in the eighth inning with a blast to center to make it 5-2. Dozier added a solo homer later in the frame off Jaime Barria.
Perez is a career .326 hitter (56 for 172) in 43 games against the Angels. That's third among active players with at least 150 career at-bats against the Halos.
The Angels got within 2-1 in the third inning when Ward connected on Bubic's changeup and put it into the Royals' bullpen in left field. Ward is third on the Angels with 11 home runs, but it was his first since May 29 against Toronto.
He then evened it at 2 in the fifth inning with a line drive to center to score Andrew Velazquez. Ward tried to extend it to a double but was thrown out by center fielder Michael A. Taylor, who made a quick throw to second baseman Whit Merrifield to easily get Ward.
BACK TO FORM
Trout, who had five homers in the Seattle series, went 1 for 4 and has recorded a hit in 10 of his last 12 games. Since his career-worse 0-for-26 slump, the three-time AL MVP is 15 for 42 (.357) with eight home runs and 15 RBIs.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Royals: C Cam Gallagher was activated off the injured list after he missed the last 45 games due to a strained left hamstring. RHP Matt Peacock was optioned to Triple-A Omaha to open a spot for Gallagher and get down to the MLB limit of 13 pitchers on a roster.
Angels: 3B Anthony Rendon had season-ending surgery on his right wrist.
UP NEXT
Royals: RHP Jonathan Heasley (1-3, 3.72 ERA) has not allowed more than three earned runs in his seven previous starts.
Angels: LHP Reid Detmers (2-3, 4.25 ERA) is 0-2 with a 4.91 ERA in five starts since throwing a no-hitter against Tampa Bay on May 10.
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