Angels club three home runs in 7-1 victory over Kansas City Royals

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Juan Rivera snapped an 0-for-21 slump with a solo home run in the second inning, Maicer Izturis hit a solo homer in the third, and Mike Napoli matched a club record for most home runs by an Angels catcher in a month with a two-run shot in the eighth to help the Angels to a 7-1 victory today over the Kansas City Royals in Kauffman Stadium.

Napoli, who also singled and scored in the second inning and doubled and scored in the sixth, finished May with eight home runs to tie Earl Averall’s team record for homers in a month, originally set in May of 1961.

Ervin Santana gave up only one run and seven hits, struck out six and walked none in seven innings to improve to 5-3. The right-hander has won each of his last four starts and has given the Angels quality starts -- six innings or more, three earned runs or less -- in six of his last seven games.

Reliever Kevin Jepsen replaced Santana to start the eighth and struck out the side, and Scot Shields threw a scoreless ninth, helping the Angels win their third game in a row. Howie Kendrick, who hit two home runs on Sunday, including a walk-off, three-run shot, had an RBI double in the second inning and an RBI single in the sixth.

--Mike DiGiovanna, reporting from Kansas City