Angels can't rein in relentless Royals in 7-6 loss

ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Los Angeles Angels continued their hot streak of hitting in the first of a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals on Friday, but that wasn't enough to outlast the Royals in what ended as a 7-6 loss that snapped the Angels' three-game winning streak. 

Friday's matchup was about as even as it gets. Both teams finished with 10 hits and between them there were four lead changes and two ties, but no matter what the Angels did to try and get ahead with their own hitting, the Royals kept coming to either match the scoring the Angels had in the previous inning or pass it up.

"They [Royals] battle, man," Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said. "When they had a mistake tonight, the put a good swing on it and hit it."

Schanuel's Big Day

Amidst all of the Angels' offense, Nolan Schanuel was the clear standout. 

The Los Angeles first baseman, who has been on something of a hot streak for the Angels in the second half of the season, tied his career-high in RBIs with four, finishing the day with a RBI single and a bases-clearing double in the third inning that gave the Angels their first lead of the day.

"Schaney's [Shanuel] been swinging the bat good, man," Suzuki said. "He's very confident up there. I think he's controlling the strike zone really well, not trying to do too much. Just having nicem good at-bats and staying within himself."

Zach Neto and Josh Lowe had RBIs as well, with Lowe's coming in the bottom of the sixth that put the Angels ahead 6-5, though that's the last time the Angels would lead all night. 

An Error Turns the Tables

Kansas City star Bobby Witt Jr. singled his way on with one out in the top of the seventh and Jac Caglione followed with a single of his own to deep right field. 

Witt Jr. is one of the fastest players in the league and he figured he'd test his luck on Caglione's hit by trying to score from first.

His luck would've run out considering that the relay throw from Lowe to Neto made it Tyler Heineman at the plate well before Witt Jr. got there, but Neto bounced the throw and it skipped past Heineman for a throwing error that allowed Witt Jr. and tied the game 6-6. 

"That was a tough one," Suzuki said. "One of those tweeners... If Neto got him out at home, you'd say, 'Wow, it's a great play.' But since we didn't, it's 'I think that was wrong.' But I thought everything was clean there."

Michael Massey drove Caglione in two batters later to give the Royals the 7-6 lead that they'd hold through the end of the game for the win.

Short Day from Rodriguez

Grayson Rodriguez was on the bump for the Angels, but he went just four innings for the second-straight start, giving up three earned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out five. 

Looking strictly at the scoring numbers, it wouldn't seem like Rodriguez labored all that much, but he was running his pitch count often, especially in the third inning after loading the bases and giving up two of the three runs he allowed. 

By the end of the fourth, Rodriguez was already at 89 pitches, putting an end to his chances at going back out and forcing the bullpen to step in.

"Obviously, not being able to pitch deep into the ballgame frustrates me," Rodriguez said. "Stuff was good. Had some balls in some good locations and just got hits. Really nothing you can do about it."