Kansas City, Mo. ? There were no late-game heroics, no wild celebrations. Just a methodical performance by Ervin Santana, rare production from the bottom of the lineup and another victory over Kansas City.

After a winning-but-tumulutuous weekend, this was just what the Los Angeles Angels needed.

Santana pitched seven strong innings, the bottom three hitters combined for six hits and the Angels avoided any drama by roughing up Luke Hochevar early on the way to a 7-1 triumph over the Royals on Monday.

“Right now we’re just trying to focus,” said Santana, 21-1 since 2008 when lasting seven innings. “We know that everything will be OK, so we’re just trying to get everybody together.”

Los Angeles won its previous two games in dramatic fashion, getting a winning grand slam from Kendry Morales against Seattle on Saturday, a three-run game-ender by Kendrick on Sunday.

The Angels were a bit more subdued following Kendrick’s winner, waiting on the grass to congratulate him after watching Morales, the team’s home run and RBI leader, break his leg during the previous day’s at-the-plate swarming.

Handshakes and high-fives were all the Angels needed against Kansas City, a team they’ve beaten 10 of the last 11 times.

Mike Napoli hit a two-run homer, Juan Rivera and Maicer Izturis each had solo shots off Hochevar (5-3), and Howie Kendrick had two RBIs to help Los Angeles kick off a season-long 14-game road trip with its fifth win in six games. Napoli, Kendrick and Michael Ryan, the Nos. 7-9 hitters, went a combined 6-for-10.

“I’m not asking them to be Superman, just get into their normal game,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “There’s been a lot of guys who haven’t been maybe as crisp as they can be and we got contributions from a lot of them.”

The Royals didn’t put up much of a fight, going 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and striking out 11 times to lose for the sixth time in nine games. Kansas City has scored two runs in three games after a season-high 20-hit outburst against Boston Friday night.

Santana (5-3) had something to do with it.

The right-hander had a shaky start to the season, but has been superb over the past month or so, allowing six earned runs with 28 strikeouts in 29 innings.