Ward homers, Jansen earns 475th save as Angels avoid sweep with 3-2 win over Royals

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Los Angeles Angels' Oswald Peraza drives in a run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Yusei Kikuchi prepares to throw to a Kansas City Royals batter during the second inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh) — Los Angeles Angels' Oswald Peraza drives in a run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

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9:33 PM on Wednesday, September 24

The Associated Press

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Taylor Ward homered, Kenley Jansen earned his 475th career save and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Kansas City Royals 3-2 on Wednesday night to avoid a series sweep.

Yusei Kikuchi (7-11) gave up just one hit while striking out six over five innings. He was removed with a left forearm cramp before the sixth. Jansen struck out two in the ninth for his 28th save of the season.

Luis Rengifo doubled and scored on Oswald Peraza's groundout in the second inning for a 1-0 lead. Ward added a 320-foot solo home run in the third to became one of just three MLB players this season with at least 35 homers, 100 RBIs and 30 doubles.

Royals' starter Stephen Kolek (5-7) went six innings, giving up three runs on five hits while striking out two. In the fourth, Kolek tried to cut down Peraza at second, but his throw sailed wide of second baseman Jonathan India, allowing Peraza to score for a 3-0 lead.

Randal Grichuk's homer in the fifth was the only hit given up Kikuchi.

Carter Jensen scored to bring the Royals within a run of Los Angeles in the seventh inning.

The Angels entered the night with the worst save percentage (51%) in the majors and the highest bullpen ERA in the AL at 4.87. Los Angeles won for just the second time in its last 12 games.

Key moment

Second baseman Christian Moore laid out for a diving stop, then fired to first for the third out of the seventh, preserving the Angels’ 3–2 lead.

Key stat

The Royals came into the night averaging the third-fewest team errors per game in the majors (0.37), but gave up three against Los Angeles.

Up next

LHP Mitch Farris (1-2, 6.52 ERA) takes the mound for the Angels while Royals' RHP Michael Lorenzen (6-11, 4.70) gets the start in a series-closing matchup on Thursday.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB