By MATT PIKE
Taylor Ward homered, Kenley Jansen earned his 475th career save and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Kansas City Royals 3-2 on Wednesday night at Angel Stadium to avoid a series sweep, setting up a rubber match in Thursday's series finale.
Luis Rengifo doubled and scored on Oswald Peraza's groundout in the second inning for a 1-0 lead. Ward added a 320-foot solo home run in the third to became one of just three MLB players this season with at least 35 homers, 100 RBI and 30 doubles.
Royals' starter Stephen Kolek went six innings, giving up three runs on five hits while striking out two, taking the loss Kolek fell to 5-7 on the season. In the fourth, Kolek tried to cut down Peraza at second, but his throw sailed wide of second baseman Jonathan India, allowing Peraza to score for a 3-0 lead.
Yusei Kikuchi gave up just one hit while striking out six over five innings. He was removed with a left forearm cramp before the sixth. Jansen struck out two in the ninth for his 28th save of the season.
Randal Grichuk's homer in the fifth was the only hit given up Kikuchi. In the seventh inning, Carter Jensen drove in Mike Yastrzemski with an RBI single to bring the Royals within a run of Los Angeles.
At the plate the Royals had just two hits in the game, with Grichuk going 1-for-2 with the home run. Jensen was 1-for-1 with the RBI after pinch hitting for Luke Maile in the seventh inning. Adam Frazier and Jac Caglianone did draw walks to be the only other baserunners for Kansas City
Kansas City and Los Angeles wrap up their series on Thursday. Michael Lorenzen (6-11, 4.70) gets the start for the Royals against Mitch Farris (1-2, 6.52 ERA) taking the mound for the Angels. First pitch is at 8:38pm, pregame coverage begins at 8 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
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