It gets worse for Angels in a 9-0 loss to Royals

How bad are the Angels?

Kansas City starting pitcher Vin Mazzaro entered the game Sunday at Angel Stadium with a 17.47 earned-run average.

He carried that hefty figure after a May 16 game against Cleveland in which he gave up 14 runs in 2 1/3 innings, becoming the first pitcher since 1900 to give up 14 or more runs in fewer than three innings.

But before an announced crowd of 39,114, Mazzaro silenced the Angels, throwing seven scoreless innings in a 9-0 win.

It’s the ninth time the Angels (31-36) have been shut out this season, matching their total from last season. They’ve been held to one run or fewer 18 times.

“It is hard [to believe],” slugger Bobby Abreu said, “especially with the kind of lineup we have. We can score runs.”

It’s the Angels’ ninth loss in 11 games and comes just before a 12-game, 14-day trip, their longest of the season, with stops at Seattle, the New York Mets and Florida before a Freeway Series date with the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.

Mazzaro (1-1) lowered his ERA to 10.80. He gave up five hits, matching the number of the double plays the Angels hit into, their most in a nine-inning game since 2004. That included outfielder Torii Hunter’s hitting into his 18th double play this season, the most in the major leagues.

The Royals (29-37) have taken seven of 10 from the Angels, who provided a glimpse of their offense in a 7-5 win Saturday after a string of putrid performances.

A day later, it was back to old habits for a team that entered having been limited to three or fewer runs in 20 of their last 34 games.

“Right now, the confidence level on the offensive side, it’s hit and miss,” Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said.

“We need to get our mojo back, get that swagger, get out there and make that baseball field yours,” he added.

Are the opposing pitchers that good?

“The way we’re swinging it right now, all the pitchers look tougher,” Abreu said. “I don’t want to offend no one, but we haven’t hit the way we’re supposed to hit.”

The Royals, meanwhile, pounded three pitchers for 13 hits, led by Alex Gordon, Billy Butler and Chris Getz, who each drove in two runs.

Tyler Chatwood (3-4) exited in the fourth after giving up four runs in the inning.

The rookie right-hander gave up five runs total in 3 2/3 innings, his worst start since giving up five runs in 2 1/3 innings at Oakland on May 17.

“I didn’t make pitches all afternoon,” Chatwood said.

Reliever Hisanori Takahashi replaced him and gave up a run. Trevor Bell gave up two more runs in the seventh and another in the eighth.

baxter.holmes@latimes.com