Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Luis Mendoza pitched into the eighth inning
and the Royals used early offense to beat Cleveland, 5-2, earning back-to-back
wins for the first time in more than a month.
Kansas City, which hadn't won consecutive contests since a four-game run June
25-29, scored four times over the first two innings.
Mendoza (5-7) gave up four hits and a pair of runs over 7 1/3 frames in the
second portion of this three-game series.
Carlos Santana homered in the fifth straight loss for the Indians. Zach
McAllister (4-3) yielded five hits and five runs -- four earned -- over six
innings.
Sloppy defense by the Indians helped the Royals in a two-run opening inning.
Alcides Escobar walked with one out and Lorenzo Cain singled. The duo executed
a double steal, but Escobar scored on the play when Santana threw the ball
down the left-field line. Billy Butler followed with an RBI groundout.
Jarrod Dyson singled in Chris Getz in the bottom of the second. Dyson stole
second before scoring on Alex Gordon's double to left-center field.
Santana's 10th homer of the year, a shot to right-center that barely cleared
the wall, had the Indians within 4-1 in the fourth. Video replay was used to
confirm the homer.
The Royals tacked on another run in the fifth when Cain's double to left
plated Escobar from first base.
Asdrubal Cabrera singled in Jack Hannahan in the eighth, but with two men on
base later in the inning, Jose Mijares retired Michael Brantley on a fly ball
to left to end the frame.
Greg Holland retired the side in order in the ninth for his first save of the
year.
Game Notes
The Indians placed designated hitter Travis Hafner on the paternity list and
recalled infielder/outfielder Vinny Rottino from Triple-A Columbus...The
Royals recalled right-handed reliever Jeremy Jeffress from Triple-A
Omaha...The Royals have won the last four meetings.
The Sports Network