Royals get to Weaver early to help Meche earn victory

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Gil Meche hopes he's finished being his own harshest critic.

"I needed this win. I've been pitching with a lot of anger for some reason, which is totally not me," Meche said after getting his first win of the year in the Kansas City Royals' 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night.

"I've been getting really upset at little mistakes I've been making, like not making the put-away pitches when I need to. I just need to relax. I haven't been myself on the mound out there so far."

He got positive results against Los Angeles, going six innings and holding its powerful lineup to two runs and six hits.

"Hopefully, I can relax now and enjoy pitching like I did last year and not worry about all the little things I do that might be mistakes," Meche said after running his career record against the Angels to 7-2.

Jered Weaver (2-2), who gave up two runs in the first inning and another in the second for Los Angeles, said Meche (1-2) pitched well.

"He kind of kept our offense off balance and he made pitches when he needed to," Weaver said.

Billy Butler and Alex Gordon had RBI singles in the first, and Joey Gathright scored on Weaver's error in the second for a quick 3-0 lead.

The Royals extended their win streak against Los Angeles to six in a row, five of those last year.

The improved Royals impressed the Angels.

"They're throwing an aggressive lineup out there," Weaver said. "They've got a lot of young talent. They're not the same team they have been in the past.

"They know they can win."

Although Weaver wasn't sharp, he managed to last six innings. He allowed 10 hits -- including five singles in the first inning.

"Jered was all over the place," Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said. "But he settled down and kept us in the game."

Relievers Ramon Ramirez, Jimmy Gobble and Leo Nunez shut out Los Angeles to set up Joakim Soria, who struck out two in a perfect ninth inning. Soria earned his fifth save in five chances and has retired the last 17 batters he's faced, eight on strikeouts.

Los Angeles slugger Vladimir Guerrero left after eight innings with a bruised right index finger, hurt on a swing in the seventh. The injury was not considered serious and Guerrero is day to day.

Mark Teahen and Gathright each had three hits for Kansas City.

The Angels narrowed the gap to 3-2 with a two-out rally against Meche in the fourth inning. Garret Anderson singled, Torii Hunter doubled, and both scored on Casey Kotchman's single to center.

Gathright scored from second base when Weaver, covering first on Mark Grudzielanek's grounder, dropped the toss that would have been the third out.

Game notes
Los Angeles optioned OF Reggie Willits to Triple-A Salt Lake and selected the contract of RHP Alex Serrano from Salt Lake. ... The Royals came into Wednesday's game with their starters sporting the AL's best ERA (3.10) and their defense topping the league in fielding percentage (.994).