KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Tyler Skaggs pitched seven innings in his first big league start in two years and Yunel Escobar went 5 for 5 to help the Los Angeles Angels pound the Kansas City Royals 13-0 on Tuesday night.

Kole Calhoun drove in four runs and Carlos Perez had four hits, including a home run. Mike Trout drove in three runs, and Johnny Giavotella had three hits, including two doubles, and scored three runs.

Escobar matched a career high for hits and the Angels collected 22 overall, equaling their season best.

Skaggs allowed three singles, struck out five and walked one. The 25-year-old left-hander, who had elbow surgery in August 2014, had his fastball clocked in the 91-95 mph range in his return to the majors.

Calhoun doubled home Escobar in the first inning. The Royals have been outscored 73-51 in the first inning after allowing only 68 first-inning runs last year.

Calhoun drove in another run in the fourth with a groundout. He also had a sacrifice fly in the sixth and another run-scoring grounder in the ninth.

Perez led off the sixth with his fifth homer.

Royals right-hander Dillon Gee (3-4) was charged with five runs and 10 hits in five-plus innings.

The Angels sent 13 men to the plate in a seven-run ninth. Reserve catcher Drew Butera got the final out in his second pitching appearance of the season.

The Royals have dropped six of seven to fall three games below .500 for the first time this season.

MONDESI CALLED UP

Raul Mondesi, the first player to make his major league debut in the World Series, was called up and inserted into Kansas City’s lineup at second base. He went 0 for 3.

Mondesi, who turns 21 on Wednesday, struck out as a pinch hitter in Game 3 of the World Series against the New York Mets.

Mondesi hit .400 in his final nine games with Triple-A Omaha with seven RBI and five stolen bases. He began the season with Double-A Northwest Arkansas, but was suspended for 50 games in May for testing positive for a banned substance.

The Royals optioned utilityman Whit Merrifield to Omaha. Merrifield hit .317 in his first 34 games, but only .169 in his last 19 games, including going 1 for 17 after the All-Star break.

CUNNINGHAM CUT

The Angels designated outfielder Todd Cunningham for assignment to make room for Skaggs. Cunningham hit .148 with one RBI in 20 games.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Angels: Dr. David Altchek confirmed the initial diagnosis of RHP Nick Tropeano’s ligament tear in his right elbow. The Angels are discussing options with Tropeano, who went to New York for the second opinion.

Royals: OF Lorenzo Cain (left hamstring strain) will play his first rehab game Thursday with Triple-A Omaha. “We’ll monitor it day to day and see how he’s feeling,” manager Ned Yost said. “Soon as feels like he’s good to go, he’ll be back.”

UP NEXT

Angels: RHP Matt Shoemaker starts for Los Angeles on Wednesday. He has allowed two or fewer runs in seven starts without getting a win.

Royals: LHP Danny Duffy goes for Kansas City. He has won his past five decisions and is 3-0 with a 3.70 ERA at home.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Albert Pujols drove in four runs, Hector Santiago won his fifth consecutive start and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Kansas City Royals 6-2 on Monday night.

Pujols drove in two with a bases-loaded single during a four-run first, then added RBI singles in the seventh and ninth innings. He leads the majors with 26 RBI in July, including 16 in his past eight games.

The Angels batted around in the first, which also included Daniel Nava’s sacrifice fly and Carlos Perez’s RBI infield single with two outs.

Santiago (9-4) is 5-0 with a 1.48 ERA in July. He held the Royals to two runs on five hits with four walks and five strikeouts.

Salvador Perez hit a two-run homer in the fourth for the only Royals runs. It was the sixth straight game the Royals have scored four or fewer runs.

The Royals loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth but failed to score when Santiago struck out Kendrys Morales on three pitches.

Ian Kennedy (6-9), who did not give up a home run for the first time in 10 starts, is 0-3 in five starts since a victory June 26. He allowed four runs on six hits, three walks and a hit batter in five-plus innings.

The Royals did not have a baserunner off four relievers. Cam Bedrosian struck out Eric Hosmer, Morales and Perez on 13 pitches in the eighth inning. Bedrosian has not permitted a run in his past 22 games, covering 20 2/3 innings.

The Royals have lost 14 of 20 July games to fall two games below .500.

DAVIS TRADE POSSIBLE

With the Yankees dealing closer Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs, several contending clubs have reportedly talked to the Royals about the availability of Wade Davis, who has 21 saves in 23 chances with a 1.10 ERA. Davis is under contract through the 2017 season.

“I wouldn’t classify or characterize any player as untouchable,” Royals manager Dayton Moore said Monday. “I never have. We always evaluate somebody’s level of interest and what their level of interest may mean to the improvement of our team as far as players that they would be willing to part with. That’s what you do. That’s what we continually do especially this time of year.

“Whether we make a move or not, we are evaluating the landscape, which potentially puts us in a better position this offseason to improve our roster.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Angels: RHP Nick Tropeano, who has been diagnosed with a medium to high grade UCL right elbow tear, traveled to New York for a second opinion from Dr. David Altchek.

Royals: OF Lorenzo Cain (left hamstring strain) took batting practice and ran before the game. “It sounds like it’s all good,” manager Ned Yost said.

UP NEXT

Angels: LHP Tyler Skaggs, who has not thrown in the majors since July 31, 2014 after elbow surgery and shoulder tendinitis, will start Tuesday. In his past two starts with Triple-A Salt Lake, he allowed no runs and two hits while striking out 26 in 12 2/3 innings.

Royals: RHP Dillon Gee makes his first start against the Angels since April 11, 2014 while with the Mets.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Delino DeShields is known for his speed, stealing 101 bases in 2012 in the minors, not for his power.

DeShields homered in the seventh inning to break a tie and the Texas Rangers defeated the Kansas City Royals 2-1 on Sunday.

DeShields, who was recalled Thursday from Triple-A Round Rock, walked and doubled before leading off the seventh with his third home run. DeShields hit a 2-1 pitch from Luke Hochevar out to left.

“It so happened that today I was the guy that got us the go-ahead run,” DeShields said. “I was just trying to hit the ball hard. I wasn’t looking for anything specific. I wanted to get on base. Before I had gotten on base in every at-bat.

“With the game tied and if I get myself in scoring position, there’s a good chance for me to touch home plate. I got into it pretty good and got it over the fence, but the main focus was just putting the barrel on the ball and try to get on base.”

The loss dropped the Royals to 48-49, the first time the World Series champions have been below .500 since May 15 when they were 18-19. The Royals have lost 13 of 19 games in July.

Left-hander Alex Claudio (2-1) picked up the win, pitching a scoreless sixth.

Hochevar (2-3) took the loss and has allowed six runs in 6 1/3 innings in July.

“It was a four-seam fastball and it just took off and ran back over the plate,” Hochevar said of DeShields’ home run. “Trying to go down and away with that and it just ran middle.

Rangers relievers Claudio, Keone Kela, Jake Diekman and Sam Dyson held the Royals scoreless the final four innings.

Dyson earned his 20th save in 22 opportunities, but not before allowing two singles and taking Paulo Orlando’s liner off his right shoulder.

After stranding runners at third base in the third, fourth and fifth innings, the Rangers broke through with a clutch hit in the sixth when Mitch Moreland’s two-out single scored Adrian Beltre, who began the inning with a single.

Royals starter Edinson Volquez left after six innings and 91 pitches, allowing one run and seven hits, while walking three and striking out three. It was Volquez’s fifth straight start pitching at least six innings and he has a 2.87 ERA in that span.

There were scouts watching Volquez, who is eligible for free agency after this season and could be traded at the deadline.

“He pitched in and out of trouble all day long, a fantastic job,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.

Rangers right-hander A.J. Griffin left after allowing four hits in five innings, including Kendrys Morales’ home run in the fourth inning. Morales had three of the Royals’ seven hits.

“I tried to keep them off balance as well as I could,” Griffin said. “It’s a good team win. Delino had a great day. I think it was good step forward for the whole team and something to build on.”

The Rangers won back-to-back games for the first time since June 27-28.

PEREZ RESTED

C Salvador Perez was not in the Royals lineup for the first time since July 3 with Drew Butera behind the plate with a day game after a night game. Perez was in a 2-for-23 skid with eight strikeouts and no walks over six games before delivering a pinch single in the ninth.

RETURNING HOME

The Rangers wrapped up a nine-game, 10-day trip Sunday and play their next seven at Globe Life Park. They have played only four home games in the past 28 days from June 27 to July 24.

RANGERS SIGN BRESLOW

Left-hander Craig Breslow, who was released Monday by the Marlins, has signed a minor league contract with the Rangers and assigned to Triple-A Round Rock. Breslow, 35, is 22-29 with a 3.35 ERA in 539 games in the majors with San Diego, Boston, Cleveland, Minnesota, Oakland, Arizona and Miami.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rangers: General manager Jon Daniels said he anticipates LHP Derek Holland and RHP Colby Lewis will return to the rotation on Aug. 20 and 21, the dates they are eligible to come off the 60-day disabled list.

Royals: OF Lorenzo Cain (left hamstring strain) ran before the game. “He’s making progress,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “We’ll evaluate it tomorrow.”

UP NEXT

Rangers: LHP Martin Perez, who has lost his past three starts, will start against the Athletics at Arlington.

Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy, who starts the series opener against the Angels, allowed four home runs in a Wednesday loss to the Indians and is tied with teammate Chris Young in allowing a major league-high 26 homers.

— Associated Press —