Royals 4, Angels 1
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Eric Hosmer hit a two-run homer and Danny Duffy pitched six solid innings as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Los Angeles Angels 4-1 Friday night.
Angels right-hander Jered Weaver (4-8) had limited the Royals to one infield single the first five innings before giving up three runs, one unearned after two errors, and three hits in the sixth. That also snapped Weaver's 21 1/3 scoreless innings streak at Kauffman Stadium.
Hosmer, who tops the American League after the All-Star break with a .390 average, homered with center fielder Lorenzo Cain aboard. First baseman Hosmer took a 2-0 Weaver curveball out to right for his 14th home run after hitting only nine last season.
Right fielder Ben Zobrist led off the inning with a double to right and scored when first baseman Albert Pujols failed to field Cain's bouncer. Cain advanced to second on Weaver's errant pickoff throw, but it became academic after Hosmer's blast.
Duffy (6-5), who lasted just 3 1/3 innings in his previous start, gave up a run in the first, but nothing after that before being pulled after 93 pitches. He allowed five hits, walked none, struck out two and hit three batters, which ties a franchise record.
Ryan Madson replaced Duffy in the seventh and the Angels promptly loaded the bases on a double and two walks. Madson got out of the jam by inducing Pujols to ground out to shortstop Alcides Escobar on a 98-mile per hour fastball.
The Royals padded their lead with a run in the eighth with catcher Drew Butera's two-out single scoring pinch runner Paulo Orlando.
Greg Holland, who failed to retire any of the six Angels he faced in blowing a save and suffering the loss Thursday, struck out t and allowed one single in the ninth to collect his 26th save in 30 opportunities.
Angels left fielder Shane Victorino led off the game with a triple into the left-field corner that caromed past Royals left fielder Ben Zobrist for a triple on left-hander Danny Duffy's fourth pitch. Center fielder Mike Trout's one-out double down the right-field line scored Victorino.
The Angels loaded the bases in the second, but came away empty. After Duffy retired the first two batters, third baseman Conor Gillaspie singled and shortstop Taylor Featherston and Victorino were hit by pitches. Duffy retired right fielder Kole Calhoun on a fly ball to center to get out of his mess.
Weaver, who was 0-4 in is previous five starts and spent July on the disabled list with left hip inflammation, held the Royals to one hit -- center fielder Lorenzo Cain's infield single to leadoff the fourth - through the first five innings.
Duffy hit three Angels in the first five innings, tying the Royals' record for most hit batters. It was the 11th time in franchise history a Royals pitcher hit three batters in a game.
The Royals had a call overturned in the third inning when umpire Quinn Colcott called shortstop Alcides Escobar out stealing second. Manager Ned Yost challenged and after a 121-second delay the call was reversed. That's as far as Escobar went as Weaver retired Zobrist on a fly ball.
NOTES: SS Erick Aybar was held out of the Angels lineup for the second straight game with a bad back. ... C Salvador Perez missed his third straight Royals game with a sore left wrist. ... The Royals surpassed the two million mark in attendance Friday, the first time since 1991 they topped that figure. ... The Royals lost Thursday for the first time in 126 games when they had a lead entering the ninth. ... RHP Johnny Cueto, who threw a complete-game shutout in his home debut for the Royals, and Angels RHP Matt Shoemaker are the Saturday probables. ... Royals 1B coach Rusty Kuntz was sick and replaced by Pedro Grifol.