Seth Lugo struck out a career-high 12 batters, leading the Kansas City Royals to a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday afternoon in Anaheim, Calif.
Lugo (6-1), who has not thrown a complete game in his nine-year major league career, threw a season-best eight innings, allowing one run on five hits. He did not walk a batter and made 112 pitches.
James McArthur gave up a solo homer in the ninth to Angels designated hitter Willie Calhoun but finished the inning to earn his ninth save.
The Royals scored all four runs in the fourth inning against Angels starter Patrick Sandoval (2-6), who gave up 11 hits and struck out three in six innings. Like Lugo, Sandoval did not walk a batter, and in fact, neither pitching staff issued a walk.
The Royals were shut down against the Angels’ bullpen, however, not getting a hit after Hunter Strickland relieved Sandoval with none out and two on the in the seventh. But the Kansas City offense had already done all it needed.
Salvador Perez led off the fourth with a double and went to third on a single by Nelson Velazquez. Catcher Freddy Fermin followed with an RBI single, moving Velazquez to second.
Dairon Blanco bunted for a single, loading the bases for Hunter Renfroe, who singled home two runs for a 3-0 Royals lead. The Royals scored their final run on Michael Massey’s sacrifice bunt, scoring Blanco from third.
The only run Lugo allowed came in the sixth inning when Mickey Moniak singled and scored from first on Calhoun’s two-out double to right field.
Calhoun’s home run in the ninth was his third hit of the game and his first homer of the season.
Perez, Velazquez, Blanco and Renfroe each had two hits for the Royals, who took three of four in the series, sending the Angels to another series loss. The Angels have won only two series all season.
–Field Level Media
