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Minor leaguer Lucas Ramirez leads Angels to win in Yusei Kikuchi’s return

March 20, 2026

THE GAME: Minor leaguer Lucas Ramirez had hits to tie the game and give the Angels the lead, as they beat the Kansas City Royals, 4-3, on Thursday night in a Cactus League game in Surprise, Ariz.

PITCHING REPORT: Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi gave up one run in 4⅔ innings in his first game of the spring with the Angels, after pitching for Japan in the World Baseball Classic. Kikuchi walked three and struck out two. He threw 64 pitches, which included a new splitter and cutter that he’s worked to add this offseason. “I wanted to add some vertical movement to my repertoire,” Kikuchi said through his interpreter. Kikuchi said that was his final tune-up before the regular season. He had said earlier this week that he was prepared to throw as many as 80 pitches, but he said the Angels decided to be more conservative and hold down the number. … Manager Kurt Suzuki said Kikuchi is expected to be full-go to start the second game of the season, in Houston. … Right-hander Walbert Ureña gave up two runs in four innings, finishing the game.

HITTING REPORT: Ramirez, who had played in the Spring Breakout prospect game earlier in the day, drove in a run with a triple and then came home on a throwing error, tying the score, 3-3, in the eighth. Ramirez then drove in the go-ahead run with a single with two outs in the ninth. Ramirez put himself on the national radar with two home runs for Brazil against Team USA in a pool-play game in the WBC. … Jo Adell singled, the Angels’ only hit through the first six innings. Adell struck out in his other two trips. Adell is hitting .356 (16 for 45) with an 1.081 OPS. He has 17 strikeouts and no walks this spring. … Jeimer Candelario drew two walks. He also struck out with two outs and two runners in scoring position in the seventh. … Logan O’Hoppe was 0 for 2 with a walk. O’Hoppe has two hits in his last 14 at-bats, but his OPS for the spring is still .891. … With runners at first and second and no outs in the second, Adam Frazier dropped down a perfect sacrifice bunt. Yolmer Sanchez then hit a ground ball to shortstop, which drove in the run, but Chris Taylor was thrown out trying to go to third.

DEFENSE REPORT: O’Hoppe, the catcher, allowed a wild pitch to get past him on a third strike in the fifth inning, extending the inning. Left-hander Drew Pomeranz ended up striking out the next hitter. … Catcher Sebastian Rivero couldn’t make the play on a bunt, allowing Jack Pineda to reach on an infield hit. … Third baseman Donovan Walton went to a knee to field a grounder on his backhand, starting a third-to-first double play. … Second baseman Oswald Peraza made a diving stop of a ground ball, but he couldn’t get the out at first, allowing a run to score. It was ruled a hit. The Angels had allowed the runner to go to third on a stolen base because Walton was not close enough to the bag.

UP NEXT: White Sox (RHP Shane Smith) at Angels (RHP José Soriano), Friday, 12:10 p.m. PT, Tempe Diablo Stadium, Tempe, Ariz.

Orange County Register

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Minor leaguer Lucas Ramirez leads Angels to win in Yusei Kikuchi’s return

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