ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Given an extra out, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim made it yet another short day for Jose Lima .

Ruben Gotay 's error at second base keyed a five-run fourth inning and Kevin Gregg pitched five effective frames as the Angels posted an 8-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals .

The Angels led, 2-1, with one out in the fourth when Maicer Izturis hit a potential double-play grounder to third baseman Tony Graffanino , but Gotay failed to touch the second base bag and Izturis - making his first start of the season - beat the relay to first.

"I just never touched the bag," Gotay said. "I just straddled the bag like I always do. When you play a good-hitting team like the Angels, you can't afford to give them extra outs."

"I was just hustling down the line to make a close play," Izturis said through an interpreter. "I was happy with the way I played tonight, and I come ready to play."

Lima (0-2) failed to recover, allowing hits to four of the next five batters, including Vladimir Guerrero 's two-run single and Garret Anderson 's RBI double that made it 7-1.

Lima allowed seven runs - three earned - and eight hits in 3 2/3 innings. He has failed to get out of the fourth in his two starts this season.

"I couldn't get command of my pitches tonight, but that's going to happen," Lima said. "I was trying to get ahead, but when I didn't get that first pitch for a strike, I was always working behind in the count."

Inserted into the rotation with Kelvim Escobar on the disabled list, Gregg (1-0) gave up just one run through 4 2/3 innings before allowing a two-run blast by Matt Stairs . Gregg, who had made just three starts in 60 career appearances, retired the next batter.

"I battled through the first couple innings," said Gregg, who struck out four and walked four. "But (catcher Bengie Molina ) pulled me together. I was falling behind batters and not throwing strikes. I had to attack their hitters."

Gregg is now 3-0 with a 2.16 ERA in five major league starts, with two of the wins coming against the Royals.

"I was able to get five good innings and have our bullpen do the rest," Gregg said.

Esteban Yan pitched three hitless innings and Bret Prinz worked around a two-out walk in the ninth.

Molina had two hits - including a solo homer in the eighth - for the Angels, who recorded 10 hits.

"I thought that our offense did what we are capable of doing," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We hit well in certain situations and ran the bases well."

Lima created his own trouble in the first, walking Orlando Cabrera with the bases loaded to give Anaheim an early 1-0 lead.

Terrence Long led off the second with a double and scored four batters later when Gregg threw a wild pitch on a third strike to David DeJesus with two outs.

The Angels surged ahead in the bottom of the frame, when Izturis tripled and scored on Chone Figgins ' sacrifice fly.