KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patrick Sandoval put an end to a frustrating personal streak while keeping the Angels going in the right direction.
Sandoval worked seven innings in the Angels’ 3-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night, snapping his five-game losing streak.
The Angels (40-32) have won 10 of their last 12 games, with the offense and the bullpen recently coming to life, while the rotation still lagged behind.
Sandoval had been a particularly disappointing member of the rotation. After posting a 3.17 ERA over the previous two years combined, he brought a 4.52 mark into Friday’s start. He had a 6.08 ERA over his last five starts.
Although this outing requires the disclaimer that the Royals (18-51) are one of the worst offensive teams in the majors and have now lost 10 straight, Sandoval nonetheless did what he needed to do.
He gave up four hits and he walked four, striking out six. In the first and fifth innings, he allowed the first two batters to reach before getting a double play.
By pitching seven innings, Sandoval was able to give most of the Angels’ overworked bullpen the night off. Rookie right-hander Sam Bachman handled the final two innings, picking up his first major league save.
Sandoval and Bachman didn’t have much cushion because the Angels did little with their nine hits and five walks. They were 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position.
Brandon Drury drove in two of the runs with a single in the first and a double in the sixth. Matt Thaiss drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh.
Shohei Ohtani doubled and drew two walks, while Mike Trout singled and walked.
The Angels also had two potential big innings scuttled by outs on the bases early in the game.
In the first, they had runners at first and third with one out when Drury took off from first on the 3-and-2 pitch to Matt Thaiss. Thaiss took a third strike and Drury was thrown out. In the third, Mickey Moniak took off from second too early when he was running on a pitch, and he was easily tagged out going to third.
