Angels 9, Royals 4
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Johnny Giavotella's three-run home run capped a five-run fifth inning, propelling the Los Angeles Angels to a 9-4 win over the Kansas City Royals Tuesday night at Angel Stadium.
It was Giavotella's first extra-base hit of the season, the second baseman struggling with a .136 average going into the game. And was just the ninth career homer for Giavotella, who is in his sixth major league season. He hit a career-high four homers last year.
Even more unlikely was that the home run came against Royals starter Edinson Volquez, who was off to a fast start, going 3-0 with a 1.46 ERA in four starts before Tuesday. In fact, Volquez had allowed only four runs all season until he gave up eight runs and 12 hits in five innings against the Angels.
Giavotella, who had just six hits this season before Tuesday, also singled and doubled.
The Angels had 14 hits in all, including four from Yunel Escobar and two from C.J. Cron, who also walked twice. Eight of the nine starters in the Angels' lineup had at least one hit.
It was the biggest offensive output by the Angels all season, the club having scored more than five runs in a game only twice. They went into the game ranked last in the American League in batting average, runs, RBIs and slugging percentage.
The beneficiary of the unexpected onslaught was Angels starter Jered Weaver, who was not very good, but was good enough. Weaver (3-0) gave up four runs on nine hits and two walks in six innings.
Jarrod Dyson had two hits and two RBIs, Mike Moustakas homered and Salvador Perez had two hits for the Royals offense.
The Royals took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first against Weaver on Moustakas' seventh home run of the year, the ball barely eluding the outstretched glove of center fielder Mike Trout.
The Angels were poised to match that run in the bottom of the first after Yunel Escobar and Rafael Ortega led off with consecutive singles. But Volquez struck out Trout for the first out.
After Albert Pujols worked a nine-pitch walk to load the bases, Kole Calhoun swung at the first pitch he saw and popped out for the second out. Andrelton Simmons flied out to center to end the threat.
The Royals increased their lead to 2-0 in the second inning on a two-out RBI double by Dyson.
The Angels loaded the bases with one out again in the second, but this time they came through. Ortega drove in the first run with a groundout, and Trout followed with a two-run single to put the Angels up 3-2. Only a spectacular catch by Alex Gordon on a drive by Pujols prevented the Angels from scoring more in the inning.
The Royals regained the lead in the fourth on back-to-back RBI doubles by Omar Infante and Dyson to go up 4-3. But the Angels rallied with a five-run fifth, the big blow coming on Giavotella's three-run homer, putting the Angels up 8-4.
NOTES: Royals 1B Eric Hosmer went 1-for-4 Tuesday and has equaled his career high with a 16-game hitting streak. He is hitting .333 (21-for-63) during the 16 games. He has reached base by hit or walk in every game this season, the streak at 28 games extending back to Sept. 27. ... Angels DH Albert Pujols began the night with four hits in eight at-bats, including three homers. The recent surge follows an 0-for-26 slump, the longest hitless stretch of his career. He went 1-for-4 Tuesday. ... With seven outfield assists through Monday, the Royals were tied for second in the majors. Houston had eight. ... The Angels' 63 runs scored in their first 20 games of the season was their lowest total since the American League implemented the designated hitter rule in 1973.