SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) - Collin Cowgill hit a two-run double in a five-run second inning against Jason Vargas, and a Los Angeles Angels split squad beat the Kansas City Royals 7-6 in 10 innings Saturday.
Vargas retired the side in order in the first, but then allowed nine of the next 13 batters to reach base - eight hits and a walk. The left-hander pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the third, getting Kyle Kubitza to bounce into an inning-ending double play.
"The first inning was good," Vargas said. "Got some pitches up in second inning and couldn't put guys away. They put good swings on the ball. I was locating. The balls they hit hard were in the gap.
"You never want to go out and have a five-run inning but I don't think it will weigh on my mind much," he said.
Efren Navarro doubled in the second and had three hits for Los Angeles. Kubitza homered in the sixth and also had three hits.
Nick Tropeano, who is competing for the fifth slot in the rotation, yielded two unearned runs and four hits in 3 1-3 innings.
"I felt more comfortable out there than my last outing," Tropeano said. "My last outing was my first time to see an opposing batter in the batter's box and you kinda get amped up."
Kendrys Morales and Matt Fields homered for the Royals. Fields' three-run shot in the seventh tied it.
Daniel Robertson had a sacrifice fly in the 10th for the go-ahead run.
STARTING TIME
Angels: Tropeano struck out Morales on three changeups in the second after Eric Hosmer's leadoff double. "We just tripled up on the changeup," Tropeano said. "We knew the scouting report coming in and kind of needed a strikeout in that situation. It's one of those pitches that I really have good confidence in throwing strikes in any count, just work off my fastball and that makes it better."
Royals: RHP Wade Davis, who had a 1.00 ERA, a 9-2 record with three saves in 71 relief appearances last season, worked a spotless fifth inning and has a 0.00 ERA in three outings.
CLUTCH HITTING LACKING
The Royals went 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 baserunners. They had two runners on in the ninth, but RF Bubba Starling struck out. "We had our chances late, but couldn't put the ball in play," Royals manager Ned Yost said.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Royals: LF Alex Gordon, who is recovering from December right wrist surgery, is penciled in to take batting practice Monday off minor league pitchers.
UP NEXT
Angels: LHP Hector Santiago will make his third start Sunday against the White Sox. He has a 3.60 ERA in his first two starts, allowing five hits and two runs in five innings.
Royals: Rookie RHP Aaron Brooks will make his second start, filling in for RHP Jeremy Guthrie, who has been setback by a stomach virus. Guthrie said he was feeling much better.