Billy Butler

Reporting from Kansas City, Mo. — They played 20 games in as many days, visiting six cities in five states and traveling about 7,600 miles in what will be their longest streak without a day off this season. Yet, by the time they returned home Wednesday night, after Kansas City's 2-0 victory on Billy Butler's disputed ninth-inning home run, the Angels had actually lost ground, dropping to .500 and falling to third place, two games off the pace in the American League West. Twenty days and 20 games ago, the Angels had a winning record and 11/2 -game lead in the standings.

Writers from around Tribune Co. reveal which of the five choices -- Jonathan Broxton, Yu Darvish, Ernesto Frieri, Jason Hammel or Jake Peavy -- they think should get the fans' vote to make the American League All-Star roster. Check back throughout the day for their responses and join the discussion by voting in the poll and leaving a comment of your own. Ron Fritz, Baltimore Sun As much as I like the work of the Rangers' Yu Darvish and the Orioles' Jason Hammel, both in their first seasons in the American League, let's give this one to the home team.

at Tampa Bay 10, Baltimore 9: Rocco Baldelli hit a game-winning double in the ninth inning and the American League East-leading Rays rallied from a four-run deficit. Nick Markakis hit a tying home run with two outs in the ninth for the Orioles. at Oakland 3, Minnesota 2: Bobby Crosby and Emil Brown each scored on a throwing error by closer Joe Nathan in the ninth inning, giving the Athletics their 10th walkoff win this season and second in three days. Toronto 7, at New York 6: Vernon Wells hit a two-run home run, Gregg Zaun drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the Blue Jays overcame a 6-2 deficit after six innings.

The Angels made it clear in the off-season that investing more dollars is their preferred route to winning. The Kansas City Royals on Sunday reminded them there's also value in something less: years. Relying on home runs and a combined six runs batted in from their young No. 3 and cleanup hitters, Eric Hosmer and Billy Butler, Kansas City captured the deciding game of the season-opening series with a 7-3 victory at Angel Stadium. "They're aggressive, they're up there swinging — everything went their way today," Angels starter Ervin Santana said after laboring through a 96-pitch Easter outing that lasted 5 2/3 innings.

Albert Pujols struck out swinging against Kansas City Royals reliever Aaron Crow in the seventh inning, and the Angels and Royals enter the eighth inning scoreless. Pujols earlier lined into a double play and fouled out to third base in his debut at Angel Stadium, where a sellout crowd of 44,106 is watching. The Angels, riding a strong performance by starting pitcher Jered Weaver (10 strikeouts through eight innings), haven't had a runner at second base since the first inning.

Bobby Abreu clubbed a two-run homer off former Angel Sean O'Sullivan and had four RBI, as the Angels beat the Kansas City Royals, 6-4, to begin a three-game series. Ervin Santana (11-8) yielded six hits and three runs over 6 1/3 innings to bounce back from his worst outing of the season. "I didn't have my best stuff tonight," said Santana, who lasted just 3 2/3 innings at Baltimore last Wednesday, when he permitted nine runs on 12 hits. "After the fifth inning, nothing was working.

Behind closed doors Saturday before his team's game against the Kansas City Royals, Angels Manager Mike Scioscia met with his three struggling sluggers. "He cursed us out," said Torii Hunter, speaking for himself, Vernon Wells and Bobby Abreu. "The words he used in there really hurt our feelings, but it actually pumped us up a little bit. " That showed in the team's biggest offensive outburst this month, as the Angels ended a season-high six-game losing streak by beating the Royals, 7-5, before 38,911 at Angel Stadium.

Luke Hochevar, who spurned the Dodgers twice after being drafted by them in 2002 and 2005, allowed two runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings Saturday to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 6-3 win over the Angels. Hochevar, who signed with the Royals after being selected with the first pick of the 2006 draft, struck out four and walked two and completely outpitched his counterpart, Angels right-hander Dan Haren. Haren seemed out of sync from the start, giving up consecutive one-out singles to Lorenzo Cain, Eric Hosmer, Billy Butler and Jeff Francoeur for two runs in the first inning and a leadoff double in the second to Humberto Quintero, who eventually scored on Cain's sacrifice fly for a 3-0 lead.

Few have had an easier job lately than whoever works the scoreboard at Angels games. It's mostly been a do-nothing gig in which they have to pay attention to only half the game — that is, whenever the Angels' opponents are up to bat. After all, entering Friday's game against Kansas City, the Angels had scored just 13 runs this month, worst in the major leagues. Their June gloom continued as the Royals beat them, 4-2, before 38,254 at Angel Stadium. The Angels (30-35)

Ervin Santana has said since his first few bullpen sessions in February that his arm feels infinitely better than it did last season, and the Angels right-hander is now backing those words with results. Santana was dominant for three innings in Saturday's 12-3 exhibition loss to the Kansas City Royals, giving up one infield single, striking out five and consistently hitting 94 mph with his fastball on the Surprise Stadium radar gun. Santana, who threw two scoreless innings in his first Cactus League start Monday, mixed in several sharp curves and changeups, fueling optimism he will return to his 2008 form, when he went 16-7 with a 3.49 earned-run average and pitched in the All-Star game.

Luke Hochevar, who spurned the Dodgers twice after being drafted by them in 2002 and 2005, allowed two runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings Saturday to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 6-3 win over the Angels. Hochevar, who signed with the Royals after being selected with the first pick of the 2006 draft, struck out four and walked two and completely outpitched his counterpart, Angels right-hander Dan Haren. Haren seemed out of sync from the start, giving up consecutive one-out singles to Lorenzo Cain, Eric Hosmer, Billy Butler and Jeff Francoeur for two runs in the first inning and a leadoff double in the second to Humberto Quintero, who eventually scored on Cain's sacrifice fly for a 3-0 lead.

Albert Pujols struck out swinging against Kansas City Royals reliever Aaron Crow in the seventh inning, and the Angels and Royals enter the eighth inning scoreless. Pujols earlier lined into a double play and fouled out to third base in his debut at Angel Stadium, where a sellout crowd of 44,106 is watching. The Angels, riding a strong performance by starting pitcher Jered Weaver (10 strikeouts through eight innings), haven't had a runner at second base since the first inning.

Behind closed doors Saturday before his team's game against the Kansas City Royals, Angels Manager Mike Scioscia met with his three struggling sluggers. "He cursed us out," said Torii Hunter, speaking for himself, Vernon Wells and Bobby Abreu. "The words he used in there really hurt our feelings, but it actually pumped us up a little bit. " That showed in the team's biggest offensive outburst this month, as the Angels ended a season-high six-game losing streak by beating the Royals, 7-5, before 38,911 at Angel Stadium.

Few have had an easier job lately than whoever works the scoreboard at Angels games. It's mostly been a do-nothing gig in which they have to pay attention to only half the game — that is, whenever the Angels' opponents are up to bat. After all, entering Friday's game against Kansas City, the Angels had scored just 13 runs this month, worst in the major leagues. Their June gloom continued as the Royals beat them, 4-2, before 38,254 at Angel Stadium. The Angels (30-35)

Reporting from Kansas City, Mo. — They played 20 games in as many days, visiting six cities in five states and traveling about 7,600 miles in what will be their longest streak without a day off this season. Yet, by the time they returned home Wednesday night, after Kansas City's 2-0 victory on Billy Butler's disputed ninth-inning home run, the Angels had actually lost ground, dropping to .500 and falling to third place, two games off the pace in the American League West. Twenty days and 20 games ago, the Angels had a winning record and 11/2 -game lead in the standings.

The Angels' clubhouse got a little raucous Wednesday, and it had nothing to do with a 2-1 win over Kansas City, a victory forged primarily on the arm of Jered Weaver and the bat of Bobby Abreu, whose 10th-inning home run gave the Angels their seventh walk-off win of the season and a three-game sweep of the Royals. Players gathered around the television to watch ESPN's video montage of baseball's top-10 bench-clearing brawls, cheering wildly as Nolan Ryan gripped a young Robin Ventura in a headlock and screaming in delight as Lou Piniella and Carlton Fisk exchanged blows after a play at the plate.

The Angels' clubhouse got a little raucous Wednesday, and it had nothing to do with a 2-1 win over Kansas City, a victory forged primarily on the arm of Jered Weaver and the bat of Bobby Abreu, whose 10th-inning home run gave the Angels their seventh walk-off win of the season and a three-game sweep of the Royals. Players gathered around the television to watch ESPN's video montage of baseball's top-10 bench-clearing brawls, cheering wildly as Nolan Ryan gripped a young Robin Ventura in a headlock and screaming in delight as Lou Piniella and Carlton Fisk exchanged blows after a play at the plate.

Bobby Abreu clubbed a two-run homer off former Angel Sean O'Sullivan and had four RBI, as the Angels beat the Kansas City Royals, 6-4, to begin a three-game series. Ervin Santana (11-8) yielded six hits and three runs over 6 1/3 innings to bounce back from his worst outing of the season. "I didn't have my best stuff tonight," said Santana, who lasted just 3 2/3 innings at Baltimore last Wednesday, when he permitted nine runs on 12 hits. "After the fifth inning, nothing was working.

Ervin Santana has said since his first few bullpen sessions in February that his arm feels infinitely better than it did last season, and the Angels right-hander is now backing those words with results. Santana was dominant for three innings in Saturday's 12-3 exhibition loss to the Kansas City Royals, giving up one infield single, striking out five and consistently hitting 94 mph with his fastball on the Surprise Stadium radar gun. Santana, who threw two scoreless innings in his first Cactus League start Monday, mixed in several sharp curves and changeups, fueling optimism he will return to his 2008 form, when he went 16-7 with a 3.49 earned-run average and pitched in the All-Star game.