Jered Weaver pitched 6.1 strong innings, Torii Hunter and Jeff Mathis provided solo home runs, and the Los Angeles Angels won their seventh Opening Day game in the last eight seasons, defeating the Kansas City Royals, 4-2.
When Weaver left the game with one out in the seventh, he had a 4-0 lead. However Hisanori Takahashi, pitching in his first game for the Angels, gave up a home run to Jeff Francoeur, ruining the shutout bid.
The next two innings were certainly shaky for the Angels' bullpen, as Takahashi gave up three straight hits before Jordan Walden came on in relief and struck out Wilson Betemit to stop the bleeding.
The eighth inning wasn’t much better for the revamped bullpen, as setup man Kevin Jepsen gave up a leadoff homer to Mike Aviles, and gave up two walks before giving way to Michael Kohn, who promptly walked Kila Ka'aihue, loading the bases for the Royals with just one out.
However, Kohn settled down, striking out Francoeur and getting Alcides Escobar to fly out to short right to end the threat.
Closer Fernando Rodney was not without issues either, walking the first batter of the inning, Matt Treanor. After retiring Betemit and Aviles, Melky Cabrera singled to right on a full count, moving Treanor to third.
With the winning run at the plate in Alex Gordon, Rodney bore down and got Gordon swinging on a 97 MPH fastball up around the chest for the third and final out.
Weaver gave up just two hits, striking out six and walking two while throwing 107 pitches.
Royals starting pitcher Luke Hochevar took the loss, giving up four runs (three earned) on nine hits, striking out five and walking none.
Peter Bourjos, once again, showed how speed can affect a game.
In the top of the sixth, after Mathis had homered, Bourjos laid down a beautiful bunt to the third base side. Hochevar, who had no shot of nailing Bourjos, threw the ball away, with Bourjos headed to second. Second baseman Chris Getz then threw the ball away again, hitting Bourjos with his throw to second, sending Bourjos to third.
Maicer Izturis then delivered, singling to center to drive in Bourjos.
That’s the kind of baseball that manager Mike Scioscia absolutely loves.
The Angels' bullpen last year led the American League in walks and wild pitches, and the free passes were definitely their nemesis again on Thursday afternoon.
Dan Haren starts the second game of the season for the Angels, while left-hander Jeff Francis will be on the mound for the Royals.
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