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)
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Noah Cameron throws against the Angels during the second inning of a spring training baseball game Monday, March 2, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Angels’ Christian Moore connects for a run-scoring single against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning of a spring training baseball game Monday, March 2, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Angels star Mike Trout connects for an RBI single against the Kansas City Royals during the second inning of a spring training baseball game Monday, March 2, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Angels’ Zach Neto celebrates his run scored against the Kansas City Royals during the second inning of a spring training baseball game Monday, March 2, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Kansas City Royals catcher Elias Diaz, left, readies to make a catch on a throw before tagging out the Angels’ Adam Frazier (20) at home plate during the second inning of a spring training baseball game Monday, March 2, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Angels starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez throws to the plate during the first inning of a Cactus League game against the Kansas City Royals on Monday, March 2, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Kansas City Royals’ Brandon Drury gets hit by a pitch during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Angels on Monday, March 2, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Kansas City Royals’ Brandon Drury gets hit by a pitch from Angels starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez during the first inning of a spring training baseball game Monday, March 2, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Kansas City Royals second baseman Tyler Tolbert, right, throws to first base for a double play after forcing out the Angels’ Jo Adell (7) at second base during the third inning of a spring training baseball game Monday, March 2, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Angels’ Oswald Peraza, right, celebrates with third base coach Keith Johnson as he runs the bases after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a Cactus League game against the Kansas City Royals on Monday, March 2, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Angels’ Oswald Peraza rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a Cactus League game against the Kansas City Royals on Monday, March 2, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Angels’ Oswald Peraza smiles as he celebrates his home run after returning to the dugout during the fourth inning of a Cactus League game against the Kansas City Royals on Monday in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Kansas City Royals pitcher Daniel Lynch IV throws to the plate against the Angels during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game Monday, March 2, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Angels center fielder Mike Trout makes a play on a single hit by the Kansas City Royals’ Elias Diaz during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game Monday, March 2, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Angels’ Christian Moore, right, dives safely back to first base as a pickoff throw gets past Kansas City Royals first baseman Nick Loftin, left, allowing Moore to advance to second base during the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game Monday, March 2, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Angels’ Christian Moore pauses near second base as a member of the Angels’ training staff runs out to check on him during the fifth inning of a spring training game against the Kansas City Royals on Monday, March 2, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Angels right fielder Jo Adell closes in on a catch of a line drive hit by the Kansas City Royals’ Daniel Vazquez during the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game Monday, March 2, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Angels manager Kurt Suzuki pauses in the team dugout prior to a spring training game against the Kansas City Royals on Monday, March 2, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Angels star Mike Trout signs autographs prior to a spring training baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Monday, March 2, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
A fan talks to a player on the field prior to a Cactus League game between the Angels and the Kansas City Royals on Monday, March 2, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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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)
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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