Joe Blanton Earns First Win After 0-7 Start

Los Angeles Angels starter Joe Blanton can sleep a little easier tonight. After an 0-7 start to the season, Blanton picked up his first victory of 2013 in a 5-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night.

Blanton was solid over 6 1/3 innings, surrendering two runs on seven hits and striking out one batter.

Blanton has struggled this season, coming into Thursday’s contest with a 6.62 ERA in ten starts this season. While he was able to lower his ERA to 6.19, Blanton still boasts a poor 1.87 WHIP and has given up an alarming 93 hits in just 56.2 innings of work.

The Angels offense provided Blanton with a pair of solo home runs from Mike Trout and Josh Hamilton, as well as a two-run home run by Mark Trumbo in the eighth inning that would increase the Angels lead to 5-2.

Despite a ninth inning comeback by the Royals led by RBI singles by Salvador Perez and George Kottaras, the Angels would come out on top with a 5-4 victory.

The victory extends the Angels’ winning streak to five games and are now tied for third in the AL West standings with a 20-27 record, 10 games behind the division leading Texas Rangers.