KANSAS CITY - Mike Trout and Albert Pujols hit solo home runs, and Mark Trumbo hit a two-run shot to help the Los Angeles Angels beat the Kansas City Royals 5-4 Thursday night.
Joe Blanton got his first victory of the season after going 0-7 in his first nine starts. He held the Royals to seven hits and two runs in 61â„3 innings. Trumbo put the Angels up 5-2 in the eighth with his team-leading 11th homer.
Ervin Santana (3-4), who spent 12 seasons in the Angels' organization before being traded during the off-season to the Royals, struck out eight without a walk, but allowed five runs and eight hits - four of which were homers. Chris Iannetta hit one in the fifth.
The Royals scored on ground outs by Alex Gordon and Mike Moustakas.
Ernesto Frieri gave up two runs in the ninth on three hits and a walk. Perez, who had three hits, and George Kottaras hit RBI singles before Robert Coello was summoned to get the final out. He retired Alcides Escobar on a fly, to strand two runners for first big league save.
The Royals have lost 13 of their past 18 games to fall two games below .500, matching their worst record. They have scored three or fewer runs in 10 of the losses.
Notes: Santana, who allowed a big league high 39 home runs last season, gave up four home runs for the second time in his career. ... RHP Jered Weaver, who is on the disabled list with a fractured left elbow, could return to the Angels' rotation next week. He is scheduled to throw a bullpen session this weekend at Kauffman Stadium. He struck out nine and walked none in 5 2-3 innings Wednesday in an extended spring training game at Arizona, allowing one run and six hits against Diamondbacks minor-leaguers. ... The Royals optioned RHP Kelvin Herrera, who had given up eight home runs in 20 1-3 innings, to Triple-A Omaha. The Royals recalled RHP Louis Coleman, who had a 1.04 ERA in 14 relief appearances with Omaha. Coleman worked a scoreless ninth against the Angels. ... Perez, who missed the previous two games with a bruised right hip, returned to the lineup. ... LF Alex Gordon went 0-for-3 to snap his 10-game hitting streak.