By MATT PIKE
Isaac Collins had two hits and drove in two runs and the Kansas City Royals used a five-run outburst in the fourth inning to beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-3 in their series opener at Kauffman Stadium
Noah Cameron bounced back after back-to-back rough starts against the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees, recording his first quality start, working 6.1 innings while striking out six and allowing eight hits and three runs, earning his second win of the season. Royals starters have combined now for 14 quality starts, which is tied for second in Major League Baseball with the Seattle Mariners.
Starling Marte knocked in the first run of the game on a fielder's choice in the fourth inning to start the five run outburst, scoring Bobby Witt Jr who led the inning off with a double. Collins extended the lead driving in Marte with an RBI single, and then beat the throw home to score on Elias Díaz's two-run double, which also brought home Carter Jensen. Michael Massey drove in Díaz to cap the inning with Kansas City leading 5-0. All the runs, outside of Marte's RBI, scored with two outs.
The Angels did try to rally in the seventh inning, scoring all three of their runs. After Zach Neto's RBI single that scored Vaughn Grissom after his one out double, chased Cameron, Mike Trout drew a bases-loaded walk for another run, driving home Logan O'Hoppe, and Jo Adell drove in Bryce Teodosio on a fielder's choice to cut the lead to 5-3.
After that rally however, Los Angeles didn't get another hit as Nick Mears, Daniel Lynch IV, Matt Strahm, and Lucas Erceg combined for 2 2/3 hitless innings of relief to preserve the lead. Erceg struck out two in the ninth for his sixth save. Collins added the final run of the game in bottom of the eighth, another insurance run with an RBI single scoring Kyle Isbel.
Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi allowed five hits, five runs and struck out five in five innings. The Royals earned their first win against a left-handed starter in seven tries this season. Their 0-6 record against southpaws heading into the game was tied for the worst mark in the league. At the plate, Collins led the way going 2-for-3 with two RBI's and a walk. Jensen was 2-for-4.
Kansas City and Los Angeles continue their series tomorrow. Cole Ragans (0-4, 6.00 ERA, 22K's) continues to search for his first win for the Royals facing Walbert Ureña (0-2, 2.35 ERA, 10K's) for the Angels in the second game of the series. First pitch is at 6:10pm, pregame will air at 5:30 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
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