Angels 7, Royals 6
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Pinch hitter C.J. Cron and right fielder Kole Calhoun hit two-run doubles in the ninth inning, and the Los Angeles Angels snapped a nine-game road losing skid with a 7-6 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night.
The Royals lost for the first time in 61 games this season when leading after eight innings.
Kansas City's usually dependable bullpen was unreliable with right-hander Wade Davis and Greg Holland unable to hold a four-run lead after seven innings.
Holland faced six batters in the ninth and retired none of them. Holland (3-1) blew his fourth save, allowing four runs on four hits, two walks and two wild pitches. It was the first time since Aug. 5, 2010, that Holland allowed more than three runs in a game.
Davis, who had missed the previous six games with back stiffness, gave up two runs in the eighth. It was the first time since April 5, 2014, that Davis allowed more than one run in a game, a span of 114 outings.
Center fielder Mike Trout contributed a RBI double and scored on designated hitter David Murphy's ground out in the eighth for the Angels.
First baseman Eric Hosmer's 13th homer in the ninth came off Angels closer Huston Street, who still logged his 27th save.
Royals right-hander Jeremy Guthrie, who had 7.83 ERA in his four previous starts, silenced the Angels on two hits and one run over six innings. He settled for a no-decision.
The Royals scored two runs in the sixth to snap a 1-1 tie. Designated hitter Kendrys Morales led off the inning with a walk, moved to third on third baseman Mike Moustakas' double into the left-field corner and scored on right fielder Alex Rios' sacrifice fly to right fielder Kole Calhoun. Catcher Drew Butera, who opened the season with the Angels, drilled a two-out RBI single to left.
The Royals padded their lead in the seventh with two more runs off reliever Cory Rasmus. Left fielder Ben Zobrist, who reached base four times with two hits and two walks, began the inning with a walk and Jarrod Dyson ran for him. With one out, Dyson stole second and scooted to third on catcher Carlos Perez's throwing error. First baseman Eric Hosmer singled home Dyson and scored on Morales' double off the right-field wall.
The Angels scored two in the eighth with center fielder Mike Trout contributing a RBI-double and scoring on Murphy's ground out.
The Royals led 1-0 after three batters. Shortstop Alcides Escobar singled on the first pitch from right-hander Garrett Richards. He moved to third on left fielder Ben Zobrist's single and scored on center fielder Lorenzo Cain's single to right.
The inning had the potential to be a bigger one for the Royals, but it fizzled out after Zobrist and Cain advanced to second and third on Hosmer's groundout to first baseman Albert Pujols. Richards stranded them by striking out designated hitter Morales and retiring third baseman Mike Moustakas on a ground out.
The Royals wasted another scoring opportunity in the third. Zorbist walked with one out and stopped at third on Cain's 100th career double. But Hosmer lined out to shortstop, and Taylor Featherston and Morales struck out.
Guthrie, who had given up 10 or more hits in his previous three starts, held the Angels hitless until Murphy doubled with two outs in the fourth. Murphy scored on third baseman Conor Gillaspie's single to center, tying the score at 1. Gillaspie's hit ended an 0-for-23 Angels famine with runners in scoring position.
NOTES: Angels LHP C.J. Wilson, who went on the disabled list July 31, opted to undergo season-ending surgery to remove bone chips. ... Angels SS Erick Aybar was a late scratch from the lineup with lower back tightness. ... Royals LF Alex Gordon hopes to go on a rehab assignment "shortly," although no date has been set. He went on the disabled list July 9 with a strained left groin. ... 2B Johnny Giavotella moved back into the leadoff spot for the Angels, who are 24-10 when he bats first. ... Angels RHP Jered Weaver and Royals LHP Danny Duffy are the probable starters on Friday.