KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — C.J. Cron and Kole Calhoun each drove in a pair of runs in the ninth inning Thursday night, rallying the Los Angeles Angels past Kansas City and its stout bullpen for a 7-6 victory and an end to their seven-game skid against the Royals.

Kansas City had built a 5-1 advantage heading to the eighth, but All-Star reliever Wade Davis coughed up two runs in his first appearance since Aug. 6, when a stiff back put him on the shelf.

Greg Holland (3-1) entered in the ninth and gave up a leadoff single, a walk and threw a wild pitch. Cron followed with a pinch-hit double to tie the game, and after Johnny Giavotella singled, Calhoun added his go-ahead double into the right-field corner.

Holland then walked Mike Trout before he was finally pulled. The former All-Star closer allowed four runs and four hits and a pair of walks without retiring a batter.

Huston Street gave up Eric Hosmer’s solo shot in the ninth before getting Alex Rios to fly out with runners on first and second to end the game. Street earned his 27th save with Albert Pujols — because of pinch hitters and substitutions — forced to play third base for the second time this season and only the 12th time since 2002.

Jose Alvarez (3-3) tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings to earn the win.

The Royals’ stunning bullpen meltdown squandered a nice bounce-back start by Jeremy Guthrie, who allowed two runs and three walks over six innings. The veteran had been dinged for at least 10 hits in each of his past three outings, putting his spot in the rotation in question.

Garrett Richards allowed three runs and eight hits and two walks for Los Angles.

Rios, Lorenzo Cain and Drew Butera drove in runs off Richards early in the game, and Hosmer and Kendrys Morales appeared to put it out of reach when they touched up the Angels bullpen.

Then, an offense that had been sputtering came to life.

Trout, Conor Gillaspie and David Murphy also drove in runs for Los Angeles, which had managed four runs total in a three-game sweep by the White Sox to start its road trip.

The victory snapped the Angels’ nine-game losing streak away from home.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Angels: LHP C.J. Wilson will have season-ending surgery to remove bone spurs. He hopes it allows him to be ready by spring training. … SS Erick Aybar was a late scratch with tightness in his lower back. Taylor Featherston replaced him.

Royals: LF Alex Gordon (strained groin) hopes to begin a rehab assignment soon. He’s been taking regular batting practice and shagged fly balls in the outfield earlier this week.

UP NEXT

Angels: RHP Jered Weaver makes his second start since returning from the DL. He allowed two earned runs and four hits in five innings against Baltimore on Sunday.

Royals: LHP Danny Duffy allowed three runs and four hits in 3 1/3 innings before getting yanked from his previous start Sunday against the White Sox.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Ian Kinsler doubled home two runs and the Detroit Tigers batted around in a four-run eighth inning to beat the Kansas City Royals 7-4 on Wednesday night.

The loss snapped the Royals’ eight-game home winning streak, their longest since winning their first 11 games in 2003 at Kauffman Stadium.

Royals right-hander Edinson Volquez (11-7) had retired 13 straight batters entering the eighth, which James McCann led off with a single. Volquez walked Anthony Gose, and Jose Iglesias had an infield single to load the bases with none out.

Kinsler doubled down the left field line to score McCann and Gose to finish Volquez’s night. J.D. Martinez’s single scored Iglesias. Kinsler scored on Tyler Collins’ fielder’s choice grounder as Detroit sent 10 to the plate in the inning.

Volquez, who had given up three or fewer runs in his previous seven starts, was charged with six runs, five earned, on eight hits over seven-plus innings.

Neftali Feliz (2-3), the former Texas Rangers closer, picked up the victory, retiring all three batters he faced. Bruce Rondon worked the ninth to log his second save in as many chances.

Victor Martinez drove in two of the Tigers runs with a sacrifice fly in the first and a double in the ninth.

Lorenzo Cain had two of the Royals hits, including a double, and scored a run. He is 11 for 19 (.579 average) on this homestand. Four of the Royals’ six hits went for extra bases, including an Alcides Escobar RBI triple in the third. Escobar scored on the play on Iglesias’ throwing error.

Tigers’ rookie left-hander Daniel Norris, who was acquired from Toronto in the David Price trade, permitted four runs on six hits in 6 1-3 innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Tigers: 1B Miguel Cabrera (left calf strain) took batting practice, fielded ground balls at first base and ran the bases. If all goes well, Cabrera should come off the disabled list Friday at Houston.

Royals: C Salvador Perez (sore left wrist) had an MRI Wednesday, which manager Ned Yost said came back clean, but Perez was held out Wednesday and likely won’t play Thursday. ”He’s got a little fluid in his joint and a little bit of a bone bruise,” Yost said. . RHP Wade Davis, who has missed the past six games with back stiffness, threw a bullpen session Wednesday and could be available Thursday.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Lorenzo Cain had a huge night and wanted more.

Cain went 4 for 4 with a home run and Yordano Ventura pitched six scoreless innings as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Detroit Tigers 6-1 on Tuesday.

Needing a triple in his final at-bat to complete the cycle, Cain sliced a single to right field and was out trying to stretch it into a double in the eighth inning.

“I wanted it bad,” Cain said about the cycle. “(Jarrod) Dyson definitely reminded me before I went up to hit. I was looking to drive a ball to right-center or right field somewhere. Unfortunately I didn’t hit it hard enough to get it to the gap. I ended up sliding in for a single.”

Cain, who raised his average to .316, led off the sixth with his 12th homer, a mammoth shot to left field.

“It felt amazing,” he said. “It was a curveball. They’ve definitely been throwing me a lot of off speed lately, far more than I’ve ever seen in my life. I was trying to adjust and stay on it, wait back. I was definitely sitting on off speed there. I ended up putting a good swing on it and it went out of the park.”

Mike Moustakas snapped an 0-for-18 drought with a homer to right with Kendrys Morales aboard in the same inning.

Ventura (7-7), who is 3-1 since the All-Star break, limited the Tigers to two hits but walked a career-high six. He struck out eight, matching his season high.

“Ventura wasn’t crazy wild,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “He was not missing by much. He stayed confident, stayed calm and continued to make pitches.”

Eric Hosmer hit a two-run homer in the first, giving him 21 RBI in the opening inning.

Anibal Sanchez (10-10) yielded all three homers, bringing his season total to 28 — tied for most in the American League. Sanchez yielded only 13 homers combined in the past two seasons.

“I don’t know what to say about it,” Sanchez said. “I don’t know what’s happened. I don’t get rattled. I just give up the home runs.”

Moustakas also stroked a run-scoring single in the eighth for his third three-RBI game of the year.

The Tigers snapped a season-worst 17-inning scoreless drought with a run in the seventh against reliever Franklin Morales. Pinch-hitter Rajai Davis’ sacrifice fly scored Jefry Marte, who led off with a double.

Luke Hochevar worked 2 2/3 spotless innings for his first save since Aug. 8, 2013, against Boston.

DEFENSIVE DANDIES

The Royals made five defensive gems, including throwing out James McCann at the plate when he attempted to score on Marte’s double to deep left-center. “I was surprised,” Yost said. “I didn’t think they had a chance to get him. I was shocked they did. When Dyson made a good throw to Esky (shortstop Alcides Escobar), I still didn’t think they had a chance. The defense was just spectacular tonight.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Tigers: 1B Miguel Cabrera (left calf strain) took batting practice and could come off the disabled list this weekend for a series at Houston.

Royals: C Salvador Perez left after seven innings with inflammation in his sore wrist, which has been bothering him for a few days, manager Ned Yost said. . RHP Wade Davis (stiff back) has not pitched since Thursday.

UP NEXT

Tigers: Rookie LHP Daniel Norris makes his third start since being acquired in a trade with the Blue Jays.

Royals: RHP Edinson Volquez, who is 1/3 with a 4.98 ERA in four career starts against Detroit, draws the assignment for the series finale.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Johnny Cueto could not have scripted a better introduction to the Kansas City fans.

Cueto threw a four-hitter in his home debut as the Royals beat the Detroit Tigers 4-0 on Monday night.

Cueto (1-1) did not allow a runner past second base, struck out eight and walked none. It was his sixth career shutout and second this season.

“The crowd really gave me an extra boost,” Cueto said with catching coach Pedro Grifol acting as his interpreter. “This is the most I’ve felt from a crowd; the intensity is by far the most.

“I felt really proud the fans were just feeding me that last little boost of energy I needed.”

Cueto, who was acquired from Cincinnati on July 26 for three pitching prospects, received a loud cheer as he went out for his warmup pitches and the standing ovations grew after every scoreless inning as he walked to the dugout.

Cueto struck out Anthony Gose on three pitches to begin the game as the festive Kauffman Stadium crowd roared with approval. Sluggerr, the Royals’ mascot, appeared wearing a Cueto-esque mane of dreadlocks.

When Cueto came out for the ninth, the Kauffman Stadium announced crowd of 36,672 rose in unison with a deafening roar that did not stop until long after he retired Victor Martinez on a fly ball to right fielder Alex Rios for the final out.

“A bunch of us were saying in the eighth inning just watch how loud this gets when he goes out for the ninth inning,” said Eric Hosmer, who had an RBI single in the seventh. “It was really cool to see and fun to be a part of it.

“It was pretty fun to see, his first game as a Royal at the K and hear the crowd out there in the ninth inning. It was a fun atmosphere tonight, a different feel tonight, a lot of people excited.”

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus complained to plate umpire Joe West that Cueto’s delivery was illegal, that he was stopping in his windup.

“Really, the way the rule reads, you’re not supposed to even alter your motion,” Ausmus said. “That’s the way the rule reads. They don’t enforce it. Well, he said if he stops it’s an illegal pitch.”

Tigers lefty Matt Boyd, who was acquired from Toronto on July 30 in the David Price trade, gave up three runs in the first inning.

Boyd (1-3), who beat Cueto and the Royals 2-1 last Wednesday when he allowed seven hits and one run over seven innings in his Tigers debut, gave up singles to Alcides Escobar and Ben Zobrist on his first two pitches.

Lorenzo Cain doubled to center, scoring both. Kendrys Morales’ one-out single produced the third run of the inning.

Zobrist went 3 for 3 with a walk. The Royals’ first five hitters — Escobar, Zobrist, Cain, Hosmer and Morales — went a combined 11 for 19 with four RBI.

J.D. Martinez doubled in the second for the Tigers’ only extra-base hit.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Tigers: 1B Miguel Cabrera (left calf strain) did light running around the bases. … RHP Alex Wilson (shoulder fatigue), threw a 12-pitch bullpen session. If his arm responds well Tuesday, he could be ready to pitch.

Royals: RHP Wade Davis (back stiffness) has not pitched since Thursday.

CHANGING LEFTIES

The Tigers optioned LHP Ian Krol, who had a 1/3 record with a 6.75 ERA in 26 relief appearances, to Triple-A Toledo. They recalled LHP Kyle Ryan from Toledo.

UP NEXT

Tigers: RHP Anabel Sanchez is 1-1 with a 5.59 ERA in three starts against the Royals this season.

Royals: RHP Yordano Ventura has an 8.18 ERA in two starts, both no-decisions, against the Tigers in 2015. He has yielded four home runs and 16 hits in 11 innings.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — With All-Star reliever Wade Davis nursing a bad back and closer Greg Holland earning saves the past two days and unavailable, Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost turned to Ryan Madson to protect a one-run lead in the ninth.

Madson struck out two in a spotless inning as the Royals edged the Chicago White Sox 5-4 Sunday for a three-game sweep.

“We feel we have four guys that can close,” Yost said.

Madson saved 32 games in 2011 with Philadelphia, but had been out of the majors until this year because of injuries.

“It helps a bunch,” Madson said of being familiar with the role. “When you first try it, it’s a totally different feel, a totally different game in that ninth inning.”

“But so, yeah, I appreciate all the experience I’ve had throwing in the ninth inning `cause then it’s just the same game as it is in the eighth and seventh. Sometimes it’s a little bit easier because the hitters feel more pressure and they’re a little more aggressive,” he said.

The Royals have won three straight games by one run for the first time since August 2012. Kansas City widened its lead to 11 1-2 games in the AL Central and improved to 10-3 against the White Sox this season.

Kendrys Morales hit a two-run homer that put Kansas City ahead 3-0 in the first.

“The first inning changed my whole game,” White Sox starter Jose Quintana said.

It was 4-all in the eighth when Alex Rios singled with one out off Jake Petricka (3-3) and Paulo Orlando followed with a ground-rule double. Omar Infante hit a grounder to first baseman Jose Abreu, and Rios slid home ahead of the tag.

“Jake threw the pitch he wanted,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “It wasn’t very well struck. At that point it doesn’t matter. They’ve got a guy who can run well down the line. It was a tough play by Jose, but I thought he made a good effort.”

Kelvin Herrera (3-2) picked up the victory despite blowing a save and giving up the tying run in the eighth on Melky Cabrera’s RBI single with two outs.

Eric Hosmer doubled home a run in the first and Morales hit his 13th homer. It was Morales’ major league-leading 24th multi-RBI game.

Royals starter Danny Duffy was pulled after 3 1/3 innings and 73 pitches. He gave up three runs in the third on a walk, hit batter, wild pitch and two hits. Kris Medlen replaced him and threw 3 2/3 hitless innings.

Gordon Beckham singled home the first run, his first RBI since June 21, and Alexei Ramirez had a two-out, two-run single.

Ben Zobrist put the Royals ahead in the fifth when he singled home Jarrod Dyson.

ZOBRIST AT THIRD

Zobrist started at third base for the first time since Sept. 30, 2010, while with the Rays at Kansas City. He did not field a ball at third base for seven innings before being replaced by Mike Moustakas in the eighth.

TRAINER’S ROOM

White Sox: OF J.B. Shuck (left hamstring strain), RHP Daniel Webb (back strain) and IF Emilio Bonifacio (left oblique strain) are on the 15-day disabled list.

Royals: LHP Brian Flynn (left lat tear) is rehabbing in Arizona, but it appears unlikely he will return before the season ends, although he did not require surgery.

UP NEXT

White Sox: LHP Chris Sale, who has allowed 14 earned runs and 18 hits in 10 1/3 innings in losing his previous two outings, will start Monday against the Angels.

Royals: RHP Johnny Cueto will make his first home start since the Royals acquired him in a July 26 trade with the Reds. The Royals dropped his first two starts on the road.

— Associated Press —