Albert Pujols homered in the first inning and then Yordano Ventura didn’t give up another hit until the sixth inning. Alcides Escobar and Alex Rios hit two-run doubles, Salvador Perez homered and the defending AL champions extended their season-opening win streak to six games with a 9-2 victory on Sunday.
The Royals and Detroit Tigers are the only undefeated teams in the majors, both at 6-0.
Tensions flared in the sixth after Mike Trout singled and scored from first on a hit by Pujols and an error by Lorenzo Cain. Ventura was backing up home plate and had some words with Trout after he slid across home plate. Both dugouts and bullpens emptied, but no punches were thrown.
“He pitches with a lot of emotion. He’s a real intense competitor, and he got fired up there,” said Royals manager Ned Yost.
C.J. Wilson, who lost to the Royals in the ALDS deciding game, gave up seven runs, six earned, on nine hits over 5.2 innings.
Danny Duffy makes his second start of the season in the opener of a three-game series at Minnesota, after giving up five runs over five innings last Wednesday in a no-decision at Chicago.
