Home runs like the ones Justin Upton and Jefry Marte hit for the Angels on Monday night are great, and so are 112.6-mph line drives, like the one Mike Trout rocketed into center field for a run-scoring single in the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals.
Philadelphia Phillies ace Jake Arrieta, who called his own team “the worst in the league with shifts” after Sunday’s 6-1 loss to San Francisco, would not have liked two key Angels hits in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The Angels overcame a rare rocky start from right-hander Nick Tropeano, who allowed five runs and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings, striking out five and walking one.