Shohei Ohtani hits 150th career homer; Angels lose to Royals

Angels star Shohei Ohtani hits a solo home run during the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals.

By David Smale

Associated Press

June 17, 2023 Updated 6:05 PM PT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Samad Taylor hit a walk-off single in his major league debut, and the Kansas City Royals beat the Angels 10-9 on Saturday to end a 10-game losing streak.

“God put me in the right position, and I came through,” Taylor said. “They were throwing a lot of breaking balls early. I may have seen four fastballs all day. So I went in there sitting breaking ball. He hung a changeup, and I put a good swing on it and we won the game.”

Aroldis Chapman (2-2) earned the win in relief. Chris Devenski (3-1) took the loss.

Taylor’s hit was not his only impressive plate appearance. He also collected two walks as the Royals climbed back from an 8-2 deficit entering the bottom of the seventh inning.

“It was impressive for a lot of reasons,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “The emotions he was able to keep under control, with a couple of walks in big spots. For him to be able to keep it under control is tremendous.

“It showed patience but also controlling [himself]. I can only imagine the feeling and excitement.”

The Angels wasted a great start by Griffin Canning, who gave up two runs and three hits in six innings.

Brandon Drury connected for two home runs and drove in three runs and Shohei Ohtani hit his major league-leading 23rd home run to build the 8-2 lead for the Angels. The homer was the 150th of Ohtani’s career.

The Angels' Shohei Ohtani celebrates in the dugout after he homered during the seventh inning for career blast No. 150.

Angels starting pitcher Griffin Canning delivers during the first inning June 17, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo.

Kansas City scored three runs in the seventh off Kolton Ingram, who was also making his big league debut. He gave up two hits and two walks in one-third of an inning. The Royals got three more runs off José Soriano in the eighth. Nick Pratto had an RBI single. Bobby Witt Jr. drove in two with a single.

The Royals went six for 10 with runners in scoring position — all from the seventh inning on — after going 10 for 69 with runners in scoring position during the 10-game losing streak.

With the score tied 8-8 in the ninth, the Angels’ Mike Trout hit a single to drive in Andrew Velazquez, who led off the inning with a walk before stealing second and third bases.

But the Royals answered in the bottom of the ninth. Edward Olivares led off with a single. Pinch-runner Dairon Blanco stole second and went to third on a throwing error. He scored on a single by Maikel Garcia. Garcia stole second and went to third on a bunt by Nicky Lopez. And then Taylor launched a hit over the head of Trout in center field to win the game.

“It’s awesome,” said Witt, who had a pair of two-RBI hits in the seventh and eighth innings. “It’s incredible how [Taylor] carried himself the whole game, and then in that moment. It’s crazy how baseball works like that sometimes.”

Mike Mayers gave up six runs and seven hits in five-plus innings for Kansas City.

Drury’s home runs came in the second and sixth innings. Ohtani’s 437-foot homer to dead center came in the seventh.

Taylor Ward also homered for the Angels in the second inning.

The Royals tied the score 2-2 in the fourth when Salvador Perez reached on an infield single and MJ Melendez hit a 420-foot home run to right-center.

Samad Taylor, top center, celebrates with his Royals teammates after he hit a game-winning single in the ninth inning.

Trainer’s room

Angels: Third baseman Anthony Rendon remained out of the lineup because of soreness in his left wrist. Manager Phil Nevin said the plan is to get him ready for Tuesday when the Angels host the Dodgers in the first game of a two-game series.