Cleveland Indians Top Royals 5-4 and Take Weekend Series

Cleveland Indians Top Royals 5-4 and Take Weekend Series

The Cleveland Indians topped the Kansas City Royals yesterday afternoon by a score of 5-4, taking the three-game weekend series against the defending World Series Champs. The Indians finished the homestand winning five of six after sweeping the Detroit Tigers earlier in the week. Starter Josh Tomlin picked up his fifth win of the season and continued a trend of winning after a Tribe loss.

The Indians got an early lead on Royals’ starter Edinson Volquez thanks to a leadoff home run from Carlos Santana. It was the second time Santana leadoff for the Indians with a home run, the first coming against Justin Verlander in Detroit. That lead was shortlived, however, as the Royals scored three runs in the fourth inning off Tribe starter Tomlin, including a three-run home run by Eric Hosmer. 

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The Indians battled back though, getting a run back in the bottom half of the inning on a solo home run by Mike Napoli. They retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three runs on a pair of RBI singles by Michael Brantley and Lonnie Chisenhall. The Tribe then took a 5-3 lead on an RBI double by Marlon Byrd. Speaking of Chisenhall, he got his first ever start in center field today, playing the first seven inning there before moving to right field later int he game.

The Indians bullpen, despite allowing an inherited runner to score, put up zeros and was able to hold on for the 5-4 win. Bryan Shaw was especially effective, going 1 2/3 innings and getting a key double play in the seventh inning before pitching a scoreless eighth. Cody Allen finished it off for his eighth save of the season, looking better than he has possibly all year in the process.

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The Indians head out on the road to take on the Houston Astros in a three-game series in Houston before returning home Friday to begin a five-game homestand that will see the Minnesota Twins and Cincinnati Twins come to town.