Kansas City, MO – Mark Trumbo's three-run home run in the second inning proved to be the difference Sunday as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim edged the Kansas City Royals, 4-3, in the finale of a three-game series at Kauffman Stadium.
Torii Hunter added an RBI single for the Halos, who have won three of their last four following a three-game slide. Vernon Wells and Alberto Callaspo had two hits apiece in the victory.
Dan Haren (11-11) allowed three runs -- two earned -- on five hits with five strikeouts and a walk over 5 2/3 innings to win for the third time in his last four starts. Kevin Jepsen worked around a hit in the ninth to nail down his second save of the season.
"Last night was a tough page to turn, but our guys played well today," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We got a lead and we held on."
Tony Abreu smoked a solo home run, while Jeff Francoeur drove in a run with a groundout for the Royals, who have dropped three of their last four.
Will Smith (5-8) was tagged for four runs on seven hits over five innings to lose for the fourth time in his last five starts.
Los Angeles opened the scoring in its first at-bat courtesy of an RBI single by Hunter, and added three more runs in the second to take a 4-0 lead.
Wells began the Angels' second with a single to right and Callaspo followed with a base hit. Trumbo then smoked a three-run shot deep to straightaway center field for his 31st homer of the season.
The Royals got a run back in the second as Salvador Perez doubled to lead off the inning, advanced to third on a groundout by Mike Moustakas and scored on a groundout by Francoeur.
Abreu led off the Kansas City third with a solo shot and Francoeur drove home Billy Butler, who doubled to start the fourth inning.
Kansas City's Jason Bourgeois singled in the fifth and moved into scoring position on a balk by Haren, but he was stranded there as Alcides Escobar grounded out and Alex Gordon struck out looking.
Moustakas ripped a one-out single in the ninth, but pinch-runner Jarrod Dyson was thrown out trying to steal second and Francoeur flied out to right to end the game.
"Our bullpen was fantastic, but we just couldn't muster enough offense to come back," Royals manager Ned Yost said.
Game Notes
Haren improved to 5-2 in his career against the Royals ... Kansas City fell to 25-22 in one-run games this season ... Los Angeles won the season series, 5-4 ... Angels infielder Erick Aybar (3-for-4) has hit safely in 15 of his last 16 games ... Trumbo's home run snapped an 18-game home run drought ... Kansas City finished 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left four on base.
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