Jo Adell put together a standout performance Wednesday night, homering and driving in all four of his team’s runs as the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Kansas City Royals 4-3 at Kauffman Stadium.
Oddsmakers had Kansas City as -120 favorites entering the game, with Los Angeles listed at +100 underdogs. The over/under was set at 9 runs, and the final score was just under that total.
Adell, enjoying a career-best season, provided all the offensive punch the Angels needed. In the sixth inning, with Los Angeles trailing 2-0, Adell stepped in against Royals reliever John Schreiber and launched the first pitch he saw to straightaway center field for a three-run homer. The blast scored Yoán Moncada, who had singled earlier in the frame, and flipped the game in favor of the Angels.
The Royals managed to tie the game in the seventh when Salvador Perez doubled off Robert Stephenson (1-0) and came around to score on Adam Frazier’s two-bagger. It was Perez’s 33rd double of the season and the 625th extra-base hit of his career, tying him with Frank White for third in franchise history.
But Adell responded once again in the eighth inning. After Moncada doubled off Lucas Erceg (6-4), Adell lined a two-out single to center, giving the Angels the lead for good. The 25-year-old outfielder finished the night with three hits and four RBIs, raising his season totals to 33 home runs and 90 runs driven in, both career highs.
Reid Detmers closed the door in the ninth, striking out two en route to his third save of the season. The victory gave Los Angeles wins in the series’ first two games and improved their all-time record at Kauffman Stadium to 162-144.
Kansas City had taken an early lead in the first inning. Mike Yastrzemski’s sacrifice fly and a throwing error put the Royals up 2-0 against Angels starter Caden Dana, who was making his first start of 2025 and just the fourth of his young career. Dana settled in after the rocky beginning, allowing only two hits and one earned run across five innings.
Royals rookie Ryan Bergert was impressive in his own right, holding the Angels hitless through five innings. He departed after issuing a leadoff walk to Zach Neto in the sixth and was charged with one run after Adell’s homer off Schreiber. Bergert finished with six strikeouts and three walks.
Andrew Chafin delivered a crucial relief outing for Los Angeles in the eighth. With the tying run on second base, he struck out Bobby Witt Jr. and then won a 12-pitch battle against Vinnie Pasquantino, fanning the Royals’ slugger to preserve the one-run lead.
The Royals (70-69) have now dropped three straight games and seven of their last 11, hampering their push for a wild card spot.
The series concludes Thursday when Angels right-hander Kyle Hendricks (6-9, 4.89 ERA) opposes Royals left-hander Noah Cameron (7-6, 2.92). Los Angeles will look for a sweep, while Kansas City will attempt to avoid losing further ground in the postseason race.
