Run in ninth allows Royals to blank Angels
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Alcides Escobar's ninth-inning single scored pinch runner Raul Mondesi as the Kansas City Royals blanked the Los Angeles Angels 1-0 on Sunday to complete a sweep of the series.
Mondesi was running for Salvador Perez, who led off the inning with a single. Mondesi swiped second and moved to third on a Blake Parker wild pitch.
Pinch hitter Mike Moustakas walked and Paulo Orlando popped up before Escobar delivered the game-winning hit.
The Royals have outscored their opponents 16-4 after the seventh inning.
Kelvin Herrera (1-0) pitched a perfect ninth to get the victory. Parker (0-1) absorbed the loss.
Royals starter Ian Kennedy allowed two hits and no runs over eight innings, striking out 10 and walking two.
Angels left-hander Tyler Skaggs was just as effective. He permitted four singles over seven scoreless innings. Skaggs struck out nine to match his career best.
Kennedy did not allow a hit until C.J. Cron doubled to left with two out in the fifth. Kennedy struck out Danny Espinosa to strand Cron.
The only Angel to reach base prior to that was Yunel Escobar walking to leadoff the fourth, but Kennedy erased him with Ben Revere grounding into a double play.
Skaggs worked out of some precarious situations in the first three innings. With two out in the first, Eric Hosmer and Perez singled. Skaggs struck out Cheslor Cuthbert to strand them.
With out in the Kansas City second, Escobar singled and Christian Colon walked. Skaggs responded by striking out Drew Butera and Alex Gordon.
Lorenzo Cain led off the Royals' third with a walk and went to second on a wild pitch. Skaggs struck out Perez and Cuthbert to maroon Cain.
NOTES: With a day game after a night game, Royals manager Ned Yost started reserves C Drew Butera, 2B Christian Colon and 3B Cheslor Cuthbert. C Salvador Perez served as DH. ... Angels DH Albert Pujols is eight home runs shy of 600. ... Angels RHP Jesse Chavez will start Monday at Houston. The Astros will counter with RHP Joe Musgrove. ... The Royals are idle Monday before continuing this homestand with two games against San Francisco. Royals RHP Jason Hammel and Giants RHP Madison Bumgarner are the Tuesday probables.