Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Pinch-hitter Kendrys Morales hit a game- tying homer in the eighth inning and Mike Trout scored the go-ahead run later in the frame, as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim defeated the Kansas City Royals, 9-7, on Friday in the opener of a three-game series.

Trout and Erick Aybar followed Morales' two-out, two-run blast with consecutive singles before Tim Collins (5-3) hit Albert Pujols to load the bases. Jeremy Jeffress then walked Torii Hunter on five pitches to push across the go-ahead run.

Jordan Walden (3-2) recorded the final out of the seventh to earn the win and Scott Downs stranded Jeff Francoeur at second base in the eighth before Kole Calhoun's ninth-inning RBI groundout capped the scoring.

Ernesto Frieri held Kansas City off the board in the bottom half to pick up his 19th save of the season.

Howie Kendrick had a two-run double and Alberto Callaspo singled home a pair in the fourth inning for the Angels, who are 2 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees for the final AL Wild Card spot.

Billy Bulter led off the second inning with his 100th career homer and Mike Moustakas added a solo shot later in the frame for the Royals, who also got a two-run blast from Francoeur in the sixth.

"He's been trying to do it for a while, so I'm glad he got it done," Kansas City manager Ned Yost said of Bulter's milestone homer.

Johnny Giavotella led off the third with a double and scored on Jason Bourgeois' single for a 3-0 Royals lead, but Kendrick and Callaspo put Anaheim on top a half-inning later.

Angels pitcher C. J. Wilson, who had won his previous three starts, allowed four runs -- three earned -- in the no-decision and was removed after issuing a leadoff walk to Alex Gordon in the sixth.

Butler then reached on an error by Kendrick and Gordon moved up on a fly out by Salvador Perez before scoring on Moustakas' sacrifice fly. Francoeur followed with a blast to left off Garrett Richards for a 6-4 lead.

Aybar answered with an RBI double in the seventh before Bourgeois singled in the bottom half, stole second and scored on Alcides Escobar's single to make it 7-5.

Game Notes

Wilson is 3-0 in 15 career appearances -- five starts -- versus the Royals ... Kansas City's Bruce Chen was charged with five runs on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings in his 200th career start ... Anaheim leads the season-series, 4-3.

09/15 00:33:36 ET