ANAHEIM, Calif. -AP- Everyone could see the potential. Alex Meyer could fire a fastball in the mid-90s, drop a curve to buckle knees. The Washington Nationals took him as the 23rd player in 2011 draft and everyone waited.If success did not come quickly, there was no denying he looked like a pitcher ready to deliver in the Los Angeles Angels' 9-0 victory over Kansas City on Saturday that snapped the Royals' six-game winning streak.
Bolstered by home runs from Cameron Maybin, Albert Pujols and Luis Valbuena, Meyer (3-3) threw six scoreless innings to do his part in a two-hit shutout."We'd heard he was erratic with his command," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "But he threw the ball very well."You don't see a lot of breaking balls like that. Those 5 o'clock shadows didn't help, but they were the same for both teams."Meyer tied a career-high with nine strikeouts, walking one. He gave up the two hits, both singles.It was the 6-foot-9 Meyer's ninth start of the season, after beginning the year in the minors."The more you go out there, the more confident you get," Meyer said. "I definitely feel it's another step in the right direction."Maybin hit a leadoff homer in the first inning, Pujols had a two-run shot in the fifth and Valbuena added a three-run homer in the seventh.Rookie right-hander Jake Junis (2-1) got the first loss of his career, surrendering five runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out six."He just struggled with his command," Yost said. "He left a lot of pitches over the plate."The Royals had at least 10 hits in each of their last four games, but Meyer and relievers Blake Parker, Cam Bedrosian and Yusmeiro Petit combined for the Angels' fourth shutout of the season.MOVING UPPujols' 602nd career homer gave him 1,865 career RBI, moving past Mel Ott into 10th place on baseball's career list. It was Pujols' 11th home run of the season.ANGELIC BULLPENWith Bedrosian back and the anticipated return of Huston Street on Tuesday, the Angels' bullpen is approaching good health. A myriad of relievers have performed in their place. The bullpen is fourth in the majors in wins (14), seventh in strikeouts and eighth in ERA (3.62)."These guys have really been holding up well," Scioscia said.KANSAS CITY SHUTOUTThis was hardly the first time the Royals have been blanked this season. It was the seventh time they have been shut out, tying the San Francisco Giants for the most in baseball.MAYBIN LEADING OFFThe Angels outfielder has hit in eight consecutive games. Since being moved to the leadoff spot, he is batting .388 (31 for 80) with three home runs."It's always good to get a quick lead like that," Maybin said. "It allows your pitcher to breathe a little bit."
"This is one of those games you hope for, where he bottles the stuff with command," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.
"He was in the zone with terrific stuff all afternoon."
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