Kansas City, MO – Mark Trumbo drove in two runs, while Hank Conger and Josh Hamilton homered, as Los Angeles extended its winning streak to seven games with a 7-0 decision over Kansas City in the third edition of a four-game series.
Mike Trout drove in a run and scored twice for the Angels, who have won three in a row in this set alone and haven't tasted defeat since May 17 at home against the White Sox.
Billy Buckner (1-0) tossed five innings of two-hit, scoreless ball, walking three and fanning two. The 29-year-old right-hander earned his first victory since 2009 with the effort.
"It feels awfully good now. It's been a long road coming back," Buckner admitted. "I'm excited for the opportunity and I'm having fun each and every day."
Jeremy Guthrie (5-3) worked 7 1/3 innings, but suffered another defeat despite holding the Halos hitless through five full frames. He ended up allowing five hits and seven runs -- six earned -- for the Royals, who stumbled to their eighth loss in nine games.
Conger's opposite-field shot just over the wall in left made it 2-0 and broke up Guthrie's no-hit bid, then Hamilton launched his seventh of the season to left and it was 3-0 for the Halos in the seventh.
The visitors blew open a close game with four runs in the eighth and chased Guthrie out thanks to Trout's infield RBI hit, a run-scoring single from Trumbo and a two-run single by Kendrick.
After Buckner's exit, four Angels relievers combined to give up just two hits in the final four innings.
The first three innings passed without a hit or a run, but the Angels found the scoreboard in the fourth. Trout walked with one down, stole second and went to third on George Kottaras' wild throw, then scored on an Albert Pujols grounder.
Alcides Escobar's infield single to start the home half was the game's first hit, and though he eventually reached third on a wild pitch and steal along with a Billy Butler walk, the Royals left runners on the corners after Lorenzo Cain grounded into a fielder's choice.
Guthrie kept the Angels off the basepaths in the fifth, and a Chris Getz double-play grounder wasted another first-and-third situation in the bottom of the frame. Despite replays which suggested he was safe, Getz was ruled out and later ejected for arguing the call.
"No additional pressure has been put on any of us. We've all been here before and we want to go out there and give up zero runs every single time," Guthrie said when asked if he felt he had to be perfect on the mound. "We have five guys that are striving to do that."
Game Notes
Buckner's last win came in a start on Oct. 2, 2009 with the Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field, where he allowed six hits and three runs over 6 1/3 innings of a 12-3 Arizona victory ... Guthrie has yielded 24 hits and 17 earned runs over 19 1/3 innings since beginning the season with five wins in seven starts ... Conger also scored two runs ... The Royals have dropped four straight day games, but still hold a 10-7 record overall in non-evening starts in 2013.
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