Paul DeJong hit a two-run home run, and Seth Lugo pitched seven strong innings as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Los Angeles Angels 5-3 on Monday night, extending their winning streak to five games.
Lugo (14-7), who had struggled with a 5.23 ERA and a 2-3 record since the All-Star break, allowed four hits and three walks while striking out eight batters. This performance tied him with Chris Sale of the Braves and Tarik Skubal of the Tigers for the most wins in the league.
Salvador Perez added two hits and three RBIs for the Royals, who have outscored their opponents 37-7 during their winning streak. Kansas City never trailed in any of these games against the Twins, Reds, and Angels.
“It’s something we all feel together,” Lugo said. “It’s a team sport and we’re all doing it together.”
Lugo only gave up two hits until the seventh inning, when Brandon Drury walked, and Mickey Moniak and Jo Adell hit doubles, bringing the Angels to within 3-2. Lugo responded by getting Taylor Ward to pop out and end the inning.
Kris Bubic allowed a homer to Zach Neto in the eighth inning before John Schreiber closed the game in the ninth for his second save.
“We battled him, battled him, battled him,” Angels manager Ron Washington said about Lugo. “At the end, we got some runs on him, but we just couldn’t put him away. If you can stay with a good pitcher like that, usually toward the end, hopefully you get an opportunity.
We started getting to him in the seventh, but by that time he’d already done his damage.”
Washington also confirmed that hitting coach Johnny Washington was ejected during the game for arguing balls and strikes.
“He thought he had to do what he had to do to protect his hitters,” the manager said.
Carson Fulmer (0-4) allowed three runs—two earned—and five hits with three walks over four innings for Los Angeles.
