Angels fall to Royals, 4-3, in 10 innings, finish trip 1-6

A superb start by Hector Santiago, clutch home runs by David Murphy and Kole Calhoun, a game-saving catch by center fielder Mike Trout … they were all just beacons of hope on another night of frustration for the Angels.

Closer Huston Street pitched too tentatively to a .198-hitting backup catcher in the ninth inning Sunday night, walking Drew Butera after jumping ahead, 1 and 2, to load the bases ahead of Alex Rios’ score-tying sacrifice fly.

The Kansas City Royals then won it in the 10th when designated hitter Kendrys Morales, the former Angels slugger, lined a two-out, walk-off single to left-center field against Trevor Gott for a 4-3 victory in Kauffman Stadium.

The Angels were 1-6 on the trip to Chicago and Kansas City and have lost 17 of 23 games. They’re 3 1/2 games behind first-place Houston in the American League West and half a game behind Baltimore for the second wild-card spot.

“We have to get a sense of urgency going,” Calhoun said. “We have to come to the park ready to win every day. We’re playing good ball. We’re right there with everybody. We’ve got to pull together as a team and turn this thing around.”

The Angels were three outs away from a trip-salvaging win, clawing back from a 2-0 deficit with two runs in the sixth inning and taking a 3-2 lead in the eighth on Calhoun’s home run to right field against Wade Davis, the 17th home run for Calhoun and second given up by Davis in 47 2/3 innings.

Calhoun also tripled in the sixth and scored on Yordano Ventura’s wild pitch, and Murphy’s ensuing home run to right tied it, 2-2.

Street walked Eric Hosmer to open the ninth. Morales was thrown out on a tapper in front of the plate, Hosmer taking second. Street intentionally walked Mike Moustakas to face Butera, who replaced Salvador Perez after the starter was ejected in the seventh.

With a 1-and-2 count, Street threw three sliders in a row, all down and away. Butera didn’t bite.

“I’ve got to pitch more aggressively to Hosmer and Butera, but sometimes you’re barely missing,” Street said. “I was trying to make Butera put the ball in play and kept missing. … Facing Butera, I’ll take that situation all the time. I had him 1-2. I usually win that battle. I didn’t execute my pitches, and that’s why we lost.”

Rios hit a sacrifice fly to right to make it 3-3. Paul Orlando followed with a drive to deep right-center field, thrusting his arms into the air as the ball tailed away from Trout. But Trout raced to the gap and made a running, lunging catch before stumbling to the ground and sliding about 10 feet on his stomach.

“I’m a guy who takes pride in his defense,” said Trout, who was hitless in four at-bats. “When you’re not doing anything at the plate, you try to contribute with a big defensive play.”

Santiago threw his best game in a month despite giving up two runs and three hits, including Ben Zobrist’s run-scoring double and Hosmer’s run-scoring single, to the first four batters he faced.

The left-hander got Morales to hit into a double play to end the first and start a stretch in which he threw 6 1/3 hitless innings and retired 19 of 23 batters, a winning effort in a stinging loss.

“People will bill tonight’s game as extra frustrating, but it’s just one game,” Street said. “That’s how we have to look at it. Winning this game wouldn’t have turned the whole season around, and losing it won’t cost us the season. We have to wake up and play tomorrow. Today is over.”

Up next

Left-hander Andrew Heaney (5-1, 2.53 ERA) will oppose Chicago White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon (5-4, 4.61 ERA) on Monday at 7 p.m. at Angel Stadium. TV: FS West; Radio: 830, 1330.