– Robert Coello got the final out with the potential tying and winning runs on base Thursday, preserving a 5-4 win for the Los Angeles Angels over Kansas City.
The Royals scored twice in the ninth inning to throw a scare into the Angels, who scored all their runs on homers and extended their longest winning streak of the season to five games. Los Angeles had won no more than three in a row before putting together their current run of success.
The Royals lost their second straight in the opener of a four-game series
Ernesto Frieri came on in the ninth with a three-run lead, but he gave up three singles and a walk. That brought about two runs and Kansas City had men on first and second with two out when Frieri was replaced by Coello, who made his sixth appearance of the season and the 18th of his major league career.
Coello needed just three pitches to get Alcides Escobar on a fly ball to right field, thus recording his first save.
His performance allowed Joe Blanton, who is fighting to hold onto a starting position, to win his first game of the year. Blanton (1-7) gave up two runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Mike Trout started the Angels offense with a solo homer in the first, Albert Pujols hit another in the fourth and Chris Iannetta contributed one more in the fifth. The fourth Los Angeles homer came from Mark Trumbo, a two-run shot in the eighth.
Ervin Santana (3-4) allowed all five Los Angeles runs on eight hits over 7 2/3 to take the loss.