How five-run inning fueled KC Royals’ series-opening victory against the Angels
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- A five-run fifth inning against Yusei Kikuchi keyed the Royals’ 6-3 win.
- Noah Cameron departed after allowing three runs in 6⅓ innings with six strikeouts.
- KC improved to 9-17 after Matt Strahm and Lucas Erceg closed out the game.
After a slow start to the 2026 campaign, the Kansas City Royals’ offense might be starting to find its footing.
On Friday, the Royals won 6-3 over the Los Angeles Angels at Kauffman Stadium. And they did so courtesy of a big offensive inning.
“Yeah, just trying to pass the baton,” Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. said. “Just try to get on, get the guy over, get the guy in. Whatever we’re doing, try to take unselfish at-bats and just go up there and grind. Just go up there and look for what you are hunting and go out there and just compete.”
In the fourth inning, the Royals scored five runs against Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi. The veteran left-hander had recent success — a 1.93 ERA and 32 strikeouts — in his last five starts against the Royals.
However, Friday was a different story. The Royals tagged Kikuchi with multiple two-out hits in the fourth frame.
Starling Marte opened the scoring with an RBI fielder’s choice. And from there, the Royals kept the line moving.
Carter Jensen and Isaac Collins added singles. Next, Elias Diaz hit a two-run double that just landed in fair territory down the left-field line. Both Jensen and Collins scored on the play.
Finally, Michael Massey hit a double into the right-field gap. The extra-base hit scored Diaz from second base.
The inning was reminiscent of past iterations of the Royals’ offense. In past years, the club would routinely string together hits in bunches.
“Yeah, I mean, he’s got a good fastball and he pitches off of that,” Collins said of Kikuchi. “That was kind of the biggest thing, making sure, at least personally, I want to get a good one over the plate that I can handle. And you know, first at-bat, he was able to execute pretty well. And then, second at-bat, I got a fastball over the plate that I wanted and executed.”
Friday’s output was a reminder of how dangerous the Royals can be. In the last three games, KC has scored at least five runs. And, it’s just the ninth time they have done it this season.
The run support was needed.
Royals starter Noah Cameron departed after allowing three runs in 6 and 1/3 innings. He scattered eight hits, issued three walks and recorded six strikeouts.
Cameron utilized all his pitches, but saw an uptick in velocity with his curveball. The off-speed pitch generated 11 swings and four whiffs, per Statcast.
“Just feeling it and throwing it hard,” Cameron said. “Sometimes it’s there and sometimes it’s not. So, I just felt confident with it today.”
In the first inning, Cameron retired Angels outfielder Jo Adell on a 6-4-3 double play. Cameron later worked around two hits and induced a second double play.
On this one, Nick Loftin, who started for an injured Maikel Garcia at third base, robbed Zach Neto of a hit. Loftin snared a line drive and tagged third to record the inning-ending double play. The defensive effort got Cameron out of the fifth inning without surrendering a run.
“Oh that was awesome,” Cameron said. “That was probably the most pumped I’ve been in a while.”
From there, the Angels chased Cameron in the seventh. He allowed three runs as the Angels found success against the Royals’ bullpen.
However, Royals lefty reliever Daniel Lynch IV recorded a key strikeout of Angels pinch-hitter Yoan Moncada to end the threat.
“You know, not a lot of margin for error,” Lynch said. “So just try to attack, but you also got to make good pitches, you know. So I think my mindset was to get ahead and attack and just try to get them out.”
The Royals held on to a slim lead. In the eighth inning, the club added a key insurance run when Collins hit an RBI single — his second of the night.
Lynch gave way to high-leverage relievers Matt Strahm and Lucas Erceg. Both shut the door on the Angels as the Royals won the series opener.
KC improved to 9-17 this season. Meanwhile, the Angels dropped to 12-15 as Kikuchi took the loss.
What’s next: Royals ace Cole Ragans (0-4, 6.00 ERA) will start on Saturday night against Angels right-hander Walbert Ureña (0-2, 2.35 ERA). First pitch is set for 6:10 p.m. Central Time at Kauffman Stadium.
This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 9:37 PM.
