Angels get walk-off win against Royals – Orange County Register

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Angels starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez throws to the plate during the second inning of a Cactus League game against the Kansas City Royals on Monday, March 2, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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THE GAME: Yolmer Sanchez’s RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Angels a 5-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Monday afternoon in Tempe, Ariz.

PITCHING REPORT: After his second start of the spring, right-hander Grayson Rodriguez said he has never been more pleased with his curveball and slider at this point of the preparation process. The 2018 first-round draft pick gave up two runs on two hits over three innings and struck out the side in the second inning. “This is the best those pitches have ever been, so I have that going for me,” Rodriguez said. “The (fastball), the velocity is there. The big thing for me is working on command, which can always be better.” Rodriguez said he overthrew a fastball in the first inning that hit the Royals’ Brandon Drury in the helmet. Drury remained in the game. “That’s a recipe for disaster, a pitcher out there overthrowing,” Rodriguez said. “Obviously, you don’t want to hit anybody in spring training. I hated to see that.” … Jack Kochanowicz went three scoreless innings and Chase Silseth followed with two scoreless before Jose Fermin blew a save opportunity by giving up two runs in the ninth.

HITTING REPORT: The Angels won it in the ninth after Nelson Rada worked a one-out walk, Trey Mancini doubled and Sanchez singled to right on an 0-and-1 pitch for his third hit of the spring. … Oswald Peraza, who was acquired at the trade deadline last season, hit a home run to left-center field to lead off the fourth inning, his first of the spring. … Jo Adell had hits in each of his first two-at-bats and doubled his total to four hits in six games this spring. … Christian Moore followed an Adell hit in the first with an RBI single. … Zach Neto had an RBI double in the second and scored on a Mike Trout single.

DEFENSE REPORT: Trout continued to show that his transition back to center field is working out just fine as he chased down a drive to the warning track by the Royals’ Drew Waters and made the catch on the run at the 420-foot mark to end the top of the third inning. … Adell made a running catch along the right-field foul line to end the top of the fifth. “They have been working really hard to get jumps,” Manager Kurt Suzuki said. “I know (first base/outfield coach) Adam (Eaton) has been talking to them about footwork. To see that hard work pay off was great to see.”

UP NEXT: Angels (RHP George Klassen) at Mariners (RHP Bryan Woo) at Peoria Sports Complex, Tuesday, 12:10 p.m. PT

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