Errors give Royals victory

KANSAS CITY — The Kansas City Royals took advantage of three errors by the Los Angeles Angels in the sixth inning to score the tie-breaking run and went on to a 9-4 victory Thursday night.

With the score 4-4, Joey Gathright led off the sixth with a bunt single and he continued to third on a two-base throwing error by pitcher Kevin Gregg (2-3). Gathright scored when first baseman Kendry Morales misplayed David DeJesus’ groundball. The third error came when Mike Napoli was charged with catcher’s interference on a pitchout when Doug Mientkiewicz reached for the pitch.

The Angels committed four errors in the game to bring their American League-leading total to 77.

Kansas City added three runs in the seventh. Mark Teahen led off with a double to right and scored on an RBI single by Angel Berroa. Berroa moved to third on a sacrifice by John Buck that produced the fourth error when pitcher Hector Carrasco threw past Kendry Morales at first base. Gathright drove in Berroa with a sacrifice fly, and DeJesus followed with an RBI single.

Elmer Dessens (5-7) allowed one hit over three innings for the win. He relieved starter Jimmy Gobble in the fifth after a two-run double by Vladimir Guerreo had given the Angels a 4-3 lead.

Gregg pitched 11/3 innings, giving up one unearned run and one hit.

Angels starter Ervin Santana walked a career-high eight in 41/3 innings. He threw 103 pitches, only 46 for strikes, and gave up four runs and five hits.

Gobble allowed four runs and six hits in four-plus innings. He walked two and struck out three.

The Royals got two runs in the first when Santana walked three and threw two wild pitches. Emil Brown drove in one run with a sacrifice fly and Mientkiewicz scored on a passed ball by Napoli.

Kansas City made it 3-0 on an RBI double by Mark Grudzielanek.

An RBI single by Guerrero in the third and an run-scoring double by Howie Kendrick in the fourth brought Los Angeles within 3-2.