Shaky Angels Pull Out a Win

The impending rotation decision -- should Jered Weaver stay or should he go? -- has been the hot topic this week, but the Angels have far more pressing concerns than whose spot Bartolo Colon will take when he comes off the disabled list.

Such as, will they ever hit well enough to contend in the American League West? And is there any end in sight to this shoddy defense, which seems to cost the Angels a game or two a week?

The Angels were no closer to any answers Thursday at Angel Stadium despite a 3-2 win over the Kansas City Royals that ended with Orlando Cabrera’s two-out, run-scoring single in the bottom of the 10th inning, the shortstop’s second walk-off hit of the season.

Pinch-hitter Mike Napoli led off the 10th with a walk, took second on Adam Kennedy’s bunt and third on Chone Figgins’ groundout before scoring the run that enabled the Angels to win three of four games from baseball’s worst team.

But the late-game heroics of Cabrera, who has reached base safely in 45 straight games, merely masked another shaky game by the Angels, who managed only nine hits -- they had a meager 14 runs and 30 hits in the four-game series -- and committed two extremely costly errors.

“Until we get our offense going to where we’re scoring runs at a better pace, every play that isn’t made is going to be magnified,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “We had a few tonight, and that made it tough for us. We need some guys to start swinging the bats better, and we have to improve our defense.”

Angels starter John Lackey gave up only one unearned run and four hits in seven innings, striking out eight and walking one, before turning a 2-1 lead over to Brendan Donnelly in the eighth.

Donnelly hit David DeJesus with a pitch, and DeJesus took second on Mark Grudzielanek’s bunt.

Doug Mientkiewicz walked, and Scioscia summoned closer Francisco Rodriguez. DeJesus took third on a wild pitch that Mientkiewicz was unable to advance on, and Reggie Sanders struck out on a slider in the dirt.

But the ball kicked a few feet away from catcher Jose Molina, and Mientkiewicz took off for second. Molina’s low-and-away throw bounced past Kennedy and into center field.

The error allowed DeJesus to score the tying run, the major league-leading 47th unearned run that the Angels have given up.

Unearned run No. 46 came in the first inning, after first baseman Kendry Morales’ throw to second on Mientkiewicz’s fielder’s choice grounder glanced off Cabrera’s glove, allowing Grudzielanek to take third.

Cabrera was charged with the error, but Morales’ throw nearly hit Grudzielanek in the shoulder.

Cabrera was partially screened by the runner and did not appear to see the ball until the very last second. Lackey struck out Sanders, but Matt Stairs doubled to right for a 1-0 lead.

The Angels countered in the third when Vladimir Guerrero, who was batting .200 (five for 25) during the homestand, hit a towering two-run home run to left-center, his 16th of the season, off Royals starter Mike Wood.

Cabrera is now batting .420 (21 for 50) with 10 runs and seven RBIs this month, but he doesn’t feel like he’s carrying the team.

“Vladdy carries the team -- that’s his job,” said Cabrera, who fisted an 0-and-2 pitch from Elmer Dessens into left-center for his game-winning hit. “I just try to get on base.”