Angels 4, Royals 3
Mark Trumbo hit a three-run homer and Dan Haren stuck around long enough to earn the win as visiting Los Angeles bounced back from a crushing defeat to take the rubber game from Kansas City.
Torii Hunter added an RBI single and Kevin Jepsen earned his second save one night after Ernesto Frieri had squandered a 2-0 edge in four pitches to take the loss. The Angels stayed within 2.5 games of Baltimore for the second American League wild-card spot, after the Orioles won later at Oakland.
Trumbo gave the Angels a 4-0 lead in the second inning when he came up with two runners on and blasted a 1-1 fastball from Will Smith (5-8) out to straightaway center. It was the 31st homer of the season but the first since Aug. 21 for Trumbo, who entered the game 4-for-33 in September.
Haren (11-11) did not have his best stuff but fought through 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits while walking one and striking out five. The right-hander surrendered single runs in the second, third and fourth but the bullpen was strong, with five relievers combining to allow one hit over the final 3 1/3 frames.
Tony Abreu hit a solo homer and Jeff Francoeur drove in a run for the Royals, who have dropped three of four.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Royals promoted five players from Triple-A Omaha. Pitchers Jake Odorizzi, Nate Adcock and Tommy Hottovy were joined by C Adam Moore and INF Irving Falu in the big-league clubhouse. … Angels CF Mike Trout went 0-for-3 to snap a nine-game hitting streak. … Los Angeles kicks off a nine-game homstand with first-place Texas on Tuesday while Kansas City gets a day off before hosting the Chicago White Sox.