Vernon Wells Torii Hunter Strand Angels Chances Against Royals

Final Score in Anaheim: Angels 3 Royals 7

Ervin Santana made his first start of the season but failed to pitch out of the 6th inning. Vernon Wells and the Angels just couldn't hit with runners in scoring position (0 for 11 in the series) while Eric Hosmer and Billy Butler belt out HRs to power the Kansas City Royals to a series win over the Angels.

Santana had a rough first inning beaning the 2nd batter of the game who would steal 2nd and driven home by Hosmer. Butler then drove a pitch to centerfield that seemed to elude the grasp of Peter Bourjos for a solo shot. While the Angels would manage to put up a run in the bottom of the inning, Vernon Wells' strikeout would leave a runner on second.

The Royals lead was cut to 3-2 in the home half of the 3rd inning as Torii Hunter would ground out to first but bringing in Erick Aybar who had struck out but reached on a wild pitch by Jonathan Sanchez.

But then things would get worse as the Royals countered with a 2-run shot in the top of the 5th by Hosmer and would add on to their lead in the 7th. In short, the Angels were playing from behind from start to finish. Aybar, Howie Kendrick and Albert Pujols were firing on all cylinders, hitting a combined 7 for 13 with 2 BB (both to Pujols) while Hunter and Wells would snuff out any chance of a rally by going 1-9 with a solo blast by Wells (remember those from last season? Pretty much waiving the white flag on the game). What doesn't show up in the box score was the awful, dreadful at-bats of Torii and Vernon. Swinging at eye-level pitches and going for broke EVERY SINGLE TIME.

When this team learns to take some walks and not play for the 3 run blast, I believe we'll have some real progress to cheer for.

Happy Easter everyone!