Perez goes deep, Cueto stingy as Royals beat Angels, 9

“No matter what you were throwing, they were hitting it”.

Not only did Greg Holland say he was available, he practically demanded to pitch. “I got only a couple of outs after all those runs scored”.

The Royals lost for the first time in 61 games this season when leading after eight innings.

The Royals’ 14 hits included seven doubles and six players with multiple hits.

It was the second straight disastrous start for Shoemaker (5-9), who before allowing seven runs in 5 2-3 innings against the White Sox, had tossed 19 scoreless innings.

“It’s one of those nights, I didn’t get it done”, Holland said.

The Angels look to avoid losing grip of a postseason spot for the first time in 6 1/2 weeks in Sunday night’s series finale in Kansas City. Kansas City 1B Eric Hosmer had a solo homer and run-scoring single on Thursday to increase his RBI total to 22 in his last 26 contests, 3. “It was time to roll”. Center fielder Mike Trout contributed a RBI double and scored on designated hitter David Murphy’s ground out in the eighth for the Angels.

DENVER – San Diego took advantage of Colorado’s shaky bullpen and erupted for three runs in the ninth inning for the win.

The inning had the potential to be a bigger one for the Royals, but it fizzled out after Zobrist and Cain advanced to second and third on Hosmer’s groundout to first baseman Albert Pujols. Alex Rios walked, Paulo Orlando doubled and Dyson drove them both in with a single.

“I think it’s definitely a win to build on”.

“We had our ace going today”.

After that, Cueto was simply pumping strikes. The only blemish on his night was an RBI single by Conor Gillaspie in the fourth inning. That’s the second most in major-league history to the 1998-99 New York Yankees, who had Mariano Rivera in his prime. “As the inning prolonged, we said we could keep [pinch-runner Shane] Victorino in the game in right field, put Kole at first, and then it got interesting and fun”.

“On the first pitch he hit it in the seats, I turned to (hitting coach) Dale Sveum and said, ‘I guess his wrist feels OK.'” Yost said. His own ERA sits near 5.00 and while he’s been giving up less contact this month, his ERA since June is 6.71. SS Erick Aybar was a late scratch with tightness in his lower back. He could play Sunday…. He went on the disabled list July 9 with a strained left groin…. Los Angeles wound up leaving 10 stranded in the game. 415 with 25 RBIs and a 1.154 OPS in his last 18 games. They were shut down by left-hander Danny Duffy and three relievers Friday and completely outplayed Saturday. He matched a season-high with eight strikes, though he also walked six.