Mondesi’s first career hit helps KC snap skid

KANSAS CITY — Royals rookie Raul Mondesi has another reason to remember his first Major League hit — it helped win a game on his 21st birthday.

Mondesi’s bunt single helped trigger a four-run seventh that rallied the Royals to a 7-5 win over the Angels on Wednesday night, snapping their four-game losing streak.

Mondesi, just called up from Triple-A on Tuesday, was attempting a sacrifice with none out and runners on first and second. His bunt was fielded by Angels starter Matt Shoemaker, who threw late and wild to first base. The ball rolled into the right-field corner as both baserunners scored, tying the game at 3, and Mondesi reached third base. Mondesi then scored on a Jarrod Dyson triple, and the Royals had the lead for good.

Left-hander Danny Duffy started for the Royals and gave up three runs over six innings. He walked two and struck out five. Shoemaker also went six innings, giving up eight hits and five runs.

The Angels trailed by four heading into the ninth, but they made it interesting against normally lights-out closer Wade Davis, loading the bases with only one out. Albert Pujols then drew a walk, Jefry Marte hit a line drive directly into Mondesi’s glove at second base and Andrelton Simmons ripped a single to center field, making it a two-run game. But Jett Bandy struck out swinging on a full-count, low-and-inside cutter, giving the Angels their first loss in six games against the Royals this season.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDClutch hits: Royals manager Ned Yost has been craving for his offense to come up with some clutch hitting and he got that after the Mondesi hit and error. With Mondesi on third, Dyson smashed a triple into the right-field corner to put the Royals up, 4-3. …

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