Bobby Abreu powers Angels past Royals, 6-4

Bobby Abreu clubbed a two-run homer off former Angel Sean O’Sullivan and had four RBI, as the Angels beat the Kansas City Royals, 6-4, to begin a three-game series.

Ervin Santana (11-8) yielded six hits and three runs over 6 1/3 innings to bounce back from his worst outing of the season.

“I didn’t have my best stuff tonight,” said Santana, who lasted just 3 2/3 innings at Baltimore last Wednesday, when he permitted nine runs on 12 hits. “After the fifth inning, nothing was working. My teammates picked me up defensively and offensively.”

Abreu finished with three hits and Hideki Matsui drove in a run for the Angels, who won for the third time in four games. They’ve also beaten Kansas City in 14 of the last 18 meetings.

“I tried to get the cycle on my last at-bat, but I’m glad we got the win,” said Abreu, who needed a triple. “We’re going in the right direction now.”

Brian Fuentes, who turned 35 on Monday, escaped a jam in the ninth inning to record his 22nd save.

O’Sullivan (1-3) was traded from the Halos to Kansas City last month in a deal that sent third baseman Alberto Callaspo to Anaheim. He allowed 10 hits and six runs over 6 1/3 frames and has still yet to win with his new club.

Yuniesky Betancourt went 3-for-3 with a homer and drove in two runs for the Royals, who lost for the fourth time in five games.

“We swung the bats better tonight,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “If you look at Sullivan’s performance, a lot was good and a lot was not so good. He just has to learn to make better pitches. Our offense kept battling right to the very end.”

Kansas City scored twice in the seventh to get within two run, but squandered a chance to get closer. Alex Gordon doubled in Wilson Betemit and Betancourt’s base hit plated Gordon. Chris Getz, though was caught stealing second base to end the inning. Angels shortstop Erick Aybar expertly blocked the base with his foot, preventing Getz from the steal, which would have put two runners in scoring position.

Aybar scored on a balk from Kanekoa Texeira in the bottom of the frame for a 6-3 margin, but Billy Butler roped an RBI double off Fernando Rodney in the eighth.

Gordon walked and pinch-hitter Willie Bloomquist singled to left to start the ninth inning. Betancourt put down a sacrifice bunt, but pinch-hitter Mike Aviles flied out to center. Pinch-hitter Brayan Pena flied out to right to end the game.

Matsui’s groundout plated Abreu in the first inning, and Abreu clubbed a two- run double in the second. The Angels left fielder was at it again in the fourth, clubbing his 13th homer of the season. The hit scored Peter Bourjos, who had an infield single earlier in the frame.

Betancourt homered in the fifth for a 5-1 margin.