ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Everyone could see the potential. Alex Meyer could fire a fastball in the mid-90s, drop a curve to buckle knees. The Washington Nationals took him as the 23rd player in 2011 draft and everyone waited.
If success did not come quickly, there was no denying he looked like a pitcher ready to deliver in the Los Angeles Angels' 9-0 victory over Kansas City on Saturday that snapped the Royals' six-game winning streak.
"This is one of those games you hope for, where he bottles the stuff with command," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He was in the zone with terrific stuff all afternoon."
Bolstered by home runs from Cameron Maybin, Albert Pujols and Luis Valbuena, Meyer (3-3) threw six scoreless innings to do his part in a two-hit shutout.
"We'd heard he was erratic with his command," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "But he threw the ball very well.
"You don't see a lot of breaking balls like that. Those 5 o'clock shadows didn't help, but they were the same for both teams."
Meyer tied a career-high with nine strikeouts, walking one. He gave up the two hits, both singles.
It was the 6-foot-9 Meyer's ninth start of the season, after beginning the year in the minors.
"The more you go out there, the more confident you get," Meyer said. "I definitely feel it's another step in the right direction."
Maybin hit a leadoff homer in the first inning, Pujols had a two-run shot in the fifth and Valbuena added a three-run homer in the seventh.
Rookie right-hander Jake Junis (2-1) got the first loss of his career, surrendering five runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out six.
"He just struggled with his command," Yost said. "He left a lot of pitches over the plate."
The Royals had at least 10 hits in each of their last four games, but Meyer and relievers Blake Parker, Cam Bedrosian and Yusmeiro Petit combined for the Angels' fourth shutout of the season.
MOVING UP
Pujols' 602nd career homer gave him 1,865 career RBI, moving past Mel Ott into 10th place on baseball's career list. It was Pujols' 11th home run of the season.
ANGELIC BULLPEN
With Bedrosian back and the anticipated return of Huston Street on Tuesday, the Angels' bullpen is approaching good health. A myriad of relievers have performed in their place. The bullpen is fourth in the majors in wins (14), seventh in strikeouts and eighth in ERA (3.62).
"These guys have really been holding up well," Scioscia said.
KANSAS CITY SHUTOUT
This was hardly the first time the Royals have been blanked this season. It was the seventh time they have been shut out, tying the San Francisco Giants for the most in baseball.
MAYBIN LEADING OFF
The Angels outfielder has hit in eight consecutive games. Since being moved to the leadoff spot, he is batting .388 (31 for 80) with three home runs.
"It's always good to get a quick lead like that," Maybin said. "It allows your pitcher to breathe a little bit."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: RHP Matt Shoemaker (forearm tightness) was placed on the 10-day DL, though no starter has been named for his next turn in the rotation Tuesday. ... RHP Parker Bridwell was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake to take his roster spot. ... Bedrosian (groin) was also activated from the DL and RHP Daniel Wright returned to Salt Lake. Bedrosian last pitched April 21. ... OF Mike Trout (thumb surgery) is expected to start holding a bat next week.
UP NEXT
Royals: LHP Jason Vargas (9-3) will take the majors' second-lowest ERA (2.10) into Sunday's series finale against the Angels. He has held opponents to two or fewer runs in 10 of his 13 previous starts.
Angels: RHP JC Ramirez (6-4) is scheduled to make his 13th start of the season. Ramirez, a career reliever until four games into this season, threw a career-high 111 pitches in his last outing.
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
Kansas City Royals
If success did not come quickly, there was no denying he looked like a pitcher ready to deliver in the Los Angeles Angels' 9-0 victory over Kansas City on Saturday that snapped the Royals' six-game winning streak.
"This is one of those games you hope for, where he bottles the stuff with command," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He was in the zone with terrific stuff all afternoon."
Bolstered by home runs from Cameron Maybin, Albert Pujols and Luis Valbuena, Meyer (3-3) threw six scoreless innings to do his part in a two-hit shutout.
"We'd heard he was erratic with his command," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "But he threw the ball very well.
"You don't see a lot of breaking balls like that. Those 5 o'clock shadows didn't help, but they were the same for both teams."
Meyer tied a career-high with nine strikeouts, walking one. He gave up the two hits, both singles.
It was the 6-foot-9 Meyer's ninth start of the season, after beginning the year in the minors.
"The more you go out there, the more confident you get," Meyer said. "I definitely feel it's another step in the right direction."
Maybin hit a leadoff homer in the first inning, Pujols had a two-run shot in the fifth and Valbuena added a three-run homer in the seventh.
Rookie right-hander Jake Junis (2-1) got the first loss of his career, surrendering five runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out six.
"He just struggled with his command," Yost said. "He left a lot of pitches over the plate."
The Royals had at least 10 hits in each of their last four games, but Meyer and relievers Blake Parker, Cam Bedrosian and Yusmeiro Petit combined for the Angels' fourth shutout of the season.
MOVING UP
Pujols' 602nd career homer gave him 1,865 career RBI, moving past Mel Ott into 10th place on baseball's career list. It was Pujols' 11th home run of the season.
ANGELIC BULLPEN
With Bedrosian back and the anticipated return of Huston Street on Tuesday, the Angels' bullpen is approaching good health. A myriad of relievers have performed in their place. The bullpen is fourth in the majors in wins (14), seventh in strikeouts and eighth in ERA (3.62).
"These guys have really been holding up well," Scioscia said.
KANSAS CITY SHUTOUT
This was hardly the first time the Royals have been blanked this season. It was the seventh time they have been shut out, tying the San Francisco Giants for the most in baseball.
MAYBIN LEADING OFF
The Angels outfielder has hit in eight consecutive games. Since being moved to the leadoff spot, he is batting .388 (31 for 80) with three home runs.
"It's always good to get a quick lead like that," Maybin said. "It allows your pitcher to breathe a little bit."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: RHP Matt Shoemaker (forearm tightness) was placed on the 10-day DL, though no starter has been named for his next turn in the rotation Tuesday. ... RHP Parker Bridwell was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake to take his roster spot. ... Bedrosian (groin) was also activated from the DL and RHP Daniel Wright returned to Salt Lake. Bedrosian last pitched April 21. ... OF Mike Trout (thumb surgery) is expected to start holding a bat next week.
UP NEXT
Royals: LHP Jason Vargas (9-3) will take the majors' second-lowest ERA (2.10) into Sunday's series finale against the Angels. He has held opponents to two or fewer runs in 10 of his 13 previous starts.
Angels: RHP JC Ramirez (6-4) is scheduled to make his 13th start of the season. Ramirez, a career reliever until four games into this season, threw a career-high 111 pitches in his last outing.
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Kansas City - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Meyer pitching for Los Angeles | KC | LAA |
| Merrifield popped out to first. | 0 | 0 |
| Bonifacio grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Cain struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Jake Junis pitching for Kansas City | KC | LAA |
| Maybin homered to center (430 feet). | 0 | 1 |
| Calhoun grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 1 |
| Pujols popped out to second. | 0 | 1 |
| Escobar grounded out to second. | 0 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Alex Meyer pitching for Los Angeles | KC | LAA |
| Hosmer singled to left. | 0 | 1 |
| Moustakas struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| Cuthbert struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| Escobar flied out to left. | 0 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Jake Junis pitching for Kansas City | KC | LAA |
| Valbuena popped out to shortstop. | 0 | 1 |
| Simmons struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| Young Jr. hit by pitch. | 0 | 1 |
| Maldonado hit by pitch, Young Jr. to second. | 0 | 1 |
| Espinosa struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Alex Meyer pitching for Los Angeles | KC | LAA |
| Gordon struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| Butera flied out to left. | 0 | 1 |
| Merrifield grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Jake Junis pitching for Kansas City | KC | LAA |
| Maybin flied out to center. | 0 | 1 |
| Calhoun grounded out to second. | 0 | 1 |
| Pujols singled to left. | 0 | 1 |
| Escobar struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Alex Meyer pitching for Los Angeles | KC | LAA |
| Bonifacio grounded out to third. | 0 | 1 |
| Cain singled to right center. | 0 | 1 |
| Hosmer struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| Cain stole second. | 0 | 1 |
| Moustakas struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Jake Junis pitching for Kansas City | KC | LAA |
| Valbuena singled to right. | 0 | 1 |
| Simmons singled to left, Valbuena to second. | 0 | 1 |
| Young Jr. struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| Maldonado singled to left, Valbuena to third, Simmons to second. | 0 | 1 |
| Espinosa singled to center, Valbuena and Simmons scored, Maldonado to second, Maldonado thrown out at third attempting to advance on play. | 0 | 3 |
| Maybin struck out swinging. | 0 | 3 |
| 2 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Alex Meyer pitching for Los Angeles | KC | LAA |
| Cuthbert struck out swinging. | 0 | 3 |
| Escobar struck out swinging. | 0 | 3 |
| Gordon grounded out to second. | 0 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Jake Junis pitching for Kansas City | KC | LAA |
| Calhoun singled to center. | 0 | 3 |
| Pujols homered to center (410 feet), Calhoun scored. | 0 | 5 |
| Escobar flied out to left. | 0 | 5 |
| Valbuena struck out swinging. | 0 | 5 |
| Simmons grounded out to third. | 0 | 5 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Alex Meyer pitching for Los Angeles | KC | LAA |
| Butera safe at first on error by third baseman Escobar. | 0 | 5 |
| Merrifield grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Butera safe at second on error by second baseman Espinosa. | 0 | 5 |
| Bonifacio grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Merrifield out at second, Butera to third. | 0 | 5 |
| Cain walked. | 0 | 5 |
| Cain stole second. | 0 | 5 |
| Hosmer struck out swinging. | 0 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 2 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Jake Junis pitching for Kansas City | KC | LAA |
| Young Jr. popped out to shortstop. | 0 | 5 |
| Maldonado hit by pitch. | 0 | 5 |
| Young relieved Junis. | 0 | 5 |
| Espinosa struck out swinging. | 0 | 5 |
| Maldonado caught stealing second, catcher to second. | 0 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Blake Parker pitching for Los Angeles | KC | LAA |
| Parker relieved Meyer. | 0 | 5 |
| Moustakas grounded out to first. | 0 | 5 |
| Cuthbert struck out looking. | 0 | 5 |
| Escobar grounded out to first. | 0 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Chris Young pitching for Kansas City | KC | LAA |
| Maybin hit a ground rule double to deep right. | 0 | 5 |
| Maybin stole third. | 0 | 5 |
| Calhoun grounded out to first, Maybin scored. | 0 | 6 |
| Pujols singled to left. | 0 | 6 |
| Escobar singled to left, Pujols to second. | 0 | 6 |
| Valbuena homered to right center (395 feet), Pujols and Escobar scored. | 0 | 9 |
| Simmons lined out to left. | 0 | 9 |
| Young Jr. singled to right. | 0 | 9 |
| Maldonado lined out to left. | 0 | 9 |
| 4 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Cam Bedrosian pitching for Los Angeles | KC | LAA |
| Revere in left field. | 0 | 9 |
| Pennington at shortstop. | 0 | 9 |
| Young Jr. in center field. | 0 | 9 |
| Bedrosian relieved Parker. | 0 | 9 |
| Gordon struck out swinging. | 0 | 9 |
| Butera lined out to left. | 0 | 9 |
| Merrifield grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 9 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Travis Wood pitching for Kansas City | KC | LAA |
| Merrifield in left field. | 0 | 9 |
| Torres at second base. | 0 | 9 |
| Moss at first base. | 0 | 9 |
| Gordon in center field. | 0 | 9 |
| Wood relieved Young. | 0 | 9 |
| Espinosa grounded out to second. | 0 | 9 |
| Revere struck out swinging. | 0 | 9 |
| Calhoun struck out swinging. | 0 | 9 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Yusmeiro Petit pitching for Los Angeles | KC | LAA |
| Petit relieved Bedrosian. | 0 | 9 |
| Bonifacio struck out swinging. | 0 | 9 |
| Torres flied out to left. | 0 | 9 |
| Moss lined out to right. | 0 | 9 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
Kansas City Royals
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merrifield 2B-LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | .288 | .330 | .455 |
| Bonifacio RF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | .251 | .311 | .455 |
| Cain CF | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 | .285 | .361 | .467 |
Torres 2B
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | .333 | .333 | .444 |
| Hosmer 1B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 13 | .310 | .363 | .461 |
Moss 1B
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .181 | .245 | .389 |
| Moustakas 3B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11 | .278 | .318 | .552 |
| Cuthbert DH | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 21 | .203 | .222 | .291 |
| Escobar SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 | .195 | .218 | .257 |
| Gordon LF-CF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 15 | .193 | .304 | .280 |
| Butera C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | .237 | .250 | .356 |
| Totals | 30 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 138 | |||
| BATTING GIDP: Bonifacio Royals RISP: 0-3 (Moustakas 0-1, Hosmer 0-1, Bonifacio 0-1) Team LOB: 4 | ||||||||||
| BASERUNNING SB: Cain 2 (14, 2nd base off Meyer/Maldonado 2) | ||||||||||
| FIELDING Outfield Assist: Cain (Maldonado at 3rd base). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA |
| Attendance | 41,209 (90.6% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:51 |
| Weather | 86 degrees, clear |
| Wind | 8 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Mark Carlson, First Base - Manny Gonzalez, Second Base - Fieldin Culbreth, Third Base - CB Bucknor |
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