Angels Top Royals 5-2, Extend Winning Streak To Eight Games

The Los Angeles Angels beat the Kansas City Royals 5-2 Sunday night to extend their winning streak to eight games. Josh Hamilton and company rallied late in the game to erase an early 2-0 Royals’ lead.

Jerome Williams got the start for the Angels, and the 31-year-old was impressive once again. He settled in after giving up a run in the second off a triple from David Lough and he kept the Angels close until his exit after the sixth inning.

Williams gave up another run in the fifth, as George Kottares crossed the plate after the pitcher’s throwing error. Things started getting rocky in the sixth, as the Royals’ Billy Butler was ejected from the game while arguing balls and strikes from the inning before.

The Angels locked in while the Royals lost their momentum, and Josh Hamilton started it all with a solo home run to start the seventh. J.B. Shuck would then drive in Howie Kendrick with a single after Royals’ starter Wade Davis was relieved by Bruce Chen.

Erick Aybar drove in another run in the very next at-bat to give the Angels their first lead of the day. Chen’s night was over before it really started, and Luke Hochevar came in to get the Royals out of the inning.

He did just that, but the Angels added two more insurance runs in the eighth. The rest was history as the Angels’ bullpen held the Royals’ scoreless through the final two innings for the ball club’s eighth straight win. Ernesto Friero shut down the Royals in the ninth for his 10th save of the early season, and the Angels are now gaining momentum as they look to climb back into contention in the AL West.

Jerome Williams now sports a 4-1 record on the season, which has been huge for Mike Scioscia’s struggling rotation. The right-hander was excited to see his teammates break out late in the game, but he also recognized Wade Davis’ great outing for the Royals.

“‘He was throwing a pretty good game and then when Josh hit that homer everything started turning around,” Williams said after the game. ”We already know our bats are there. Everybody is getting hot, not just Josh. That’s what we need. We need Josh to get back.”

Do you believe Josh Hamilton and the Los Angeles Angels are capable and ready to erase their nine game deficit in the AL West?

[Image via Creative Commons | camknows]