Angels 5, Royals 0
Jered Weaver stole Albert Pujols’ thunder in the first baseman’s American League debut, pitching eight scoreless innings as host Los Angeles opened the 2012 season with a victory.
The Angels won their season opener for the fourth straight year and dealt the Royals their fourth opening-day loss in a row.
Weaver (1-0) gave up back-to-back singles to open the third, but sat down the next three batters to get out of the jam. He allowed only two more hits, both coming in the sixth inning, and finished with 10 strikeouts and no walks.
With the game scoreless through 7 1/3 innings, Kendrys Morales, playing in his first game since dislocating his ankle on May 29, 2010, sparked the Angels with a single in the eighth. Los Angeles loaded the bases and scored five runs in the inning – three off Erick Aybar’s triple to right field.
After hitting .383 with seven home runs and 20 RBIs in the spring, Pujols went 0-for-3, including going down swinging on three straight pitches in his third at-bat. He was intentionally walked in the eighth.
Veteran lefty Bruce Chen pitched six scoreless innings in his first career opening day start. He allowed only three hits and struck out four with no walks.
Kansas City’s No. 1-4 hitters went a combined 0-for-16, including 10 strikeouts.
Royals reliever Aaron Crow (0-1) was dealt the loss after allowing three runs on three hits.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Angels Stadium was standing for Pujols’ first at bat – a line-out double play to end the first inning. … Angels 3B Mark Trumbo committed two errors in his first start.