KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Billy Butler hit a game-winning, two-run homer in the ninth inning Wednesday to give the Kansas City Royals a 2-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.
Jeff Francoeur singled with one out before Butler connected off Scott Downs (3-2). The ball hit behind the outfield padding in left-center field and bounced back into play, and the umpires initially ruled it a double before video showed it to be a home run.
Tim Collins (3-2), the fifth Royals pitcher, pitched 1 1-3 flawless innings for the win.
Felipe Paulino, who made his first start of the season after 19 relief appearances, held the Angels to four singles over five innings, striking out four without an issuing a walk.
The Royals acquired Paulino last week from the Colorado Rockies, who had designated him for assignment. Paulino has thrown 9 1-3 scoreless innings and given up five hits, while striking out seven and walking none in his first two appearances with Kansas City.
Paulino worked out of a bases-loaded jam with none out in the third after infield singles by Alexi Amarista and Erick Aybar and Mike Aviles’ fielding error. Paulino struck out Bobby Abreu and coaxed Torii Hunter to ground into a double play.
Angels rookie Tyler Chatwood went 7 2-3 innings and gave up five singles. The Royals did not get a runner past second base off Chatwood before the eighth.
Greg Holland, who replaced Paulino, worked 2 2-3 scoreless innings and struck out six for Kansas City. The Angels loaded the bases in the eighth when the Royals used four pitchers, but shortstop Alcides Escobar made a diving stop to his right of Alberto Callaspo’s sharp grounder on the edge of the outfield grass and threw him out at first to end the inning.
The Angels are hitting .167 (5 for 30) with the bases loaded.