Ohtani's three-run triple leads Angels to 7-1 win vs. Royals

Lucas Duda of the Royals beats the throw to Angels third baseman Luis Valbuena as he advances on a single by Abraham Almonte during the fourth inning of Thursday night's game at Kauffman Stadium.
Lucas Duda of the Royals beats the throw to Angels third baseman Luis Valbuena as he advances on a single by Abraham Almonte during the fourth inning of Thursday night's game at Kauffman Stadium.

KANSAS CITY - Shohei Ohtani hit a bases-loaded triple in a five-run seventh inning to help the streaking Los Angeles Angels beat the Kansas City Royals 7-1 on Thursday night for their fifth straight victory.

Ian Kinsler homered on his first swing in his return to the Angels' lineup, and Nick Tropeano (1-0) pitched shutout ball into the seventh for his first major league win since 2016.

Los Angeles has won eight of nine.

Ohtani drove a 1-2 pitch from Brandon Maurer to right-center, scoring Kole Calhoun, Andrelton Simmons and Luis Valbuena. The Royals walked Ohtani intentionally in the sixth with first base open and Simmons on second.

Ohtani is tied with Mike Trout for the Angels' lead with 11 RBI in 26 at-bats. Trout went 3-for-4 with his fifth home run and has 55 at-bats.

Kinsler led off the game with a home run for the 47th time in his career, driving a 1-0 pitch from Ian Kennedy (1-1) out to left. Kinsler missed the previous 11 games with an adductor strain.

Tropeano, making his first big league appearance since July 18, 2016, limited the Royals to six hits in 6 scoreless innings. He had elbow surgery in August 2016 and missed last season.

Tropeano threw 88 pitches, struck out six and walked two.

Kennedy was removed after six innings and 100 pitches. He allowed seven hits but just the one run on Kinsler's homer.

The Royals, who have lost eight of 11, have scored a total of 32 runs - and 10 of those came in Monday's victory against Seattle.

Lucas Duda singled home Mike Moustakas, who doubled, with two outs in the eighth for Kansas City.

Notes: Royals DH Whit Merrifield hit fifth for the second time in his career. He batted second in the first 10 games of the season. Royals RHP Jason Hammel will try to build off Sunday's strong outing. He threw six scoreless innings in a no-decision at Cleveland.