By Adrienne Goehler
CLEVELAND – The Indians and Royals wrapped up their four game series tonight at Progressive Field in front of the 13,125 fans in attendance.
The Royals came out tonight on top 8-4, splitting the four game series with the Tribe.
Making his first start since August 29th after dealing with a hamstring injury, Corey Kluber provided four innings for the Indians giving up five hits and three runs.
Salvador Perez got on in the second inning because of a throwing error from third baseman Giovanny Urshela, and Alex Rios followed up with a single.
Omar Infante sent one to the Home Run Porch in left to put the Royals up 3-0.
“I might have been overprotective, and if that’s the case I don’t want to apologize for it,” Indians manager Terry Francona said about Kluber returning to the mound tonight.
“I just think after being down for nineteen days or whatever it was, I just thought he’ll be better, and he’ll be better suited now to start pitching probably like he can and not have to think about it.”
With two outs in the home half of the second inning, Jason Kipnis was able to knock in Jose Ramirez from second, and Giovanny Urshela advanced to third and scored on a throwing error from Ben Zobrist out in left field cutting the Royals lead to 3-2.
Kyle Crockett relieved Kluber in the fifth but allowed two runs to score after walking Mike Moustakas, Kendrys Morales followed with a single, and Eric Hosmer doubled scoring both.
Jeff Manship came in and got out number two, but walked Alex Rios loading up the bases. Infante doubled, extending the Royals lead to 6-2.
The Indians had a great opportunity to score in the bottom of the fifth but couldn’t come through. Carlos Santana led off the inning with a double, and Abraham Almonte singled.
Yan Gomes was plunked right in the back to give the Indians bases loaded with just one out. Jose Ramirez grounded into a fielder’s choice, and Santana scored cutting the Royals lead 6-3.
Urshela was able to draw the two out walk to load bases up for Kipnis, but he couldn’t get the hit they desperately needed and grounded out to first.
More problems for the Tribe bullpen came in the seventh inning when Gavin Floyd allowed Perez to single and Rios followed with a double with two outs in the inning.
Once again, Infante drove both runners in putting the Royals up 8-3. Infante had a career high 7 RBI on the night.
The Indians tried to keep it interesting by loading up the bases in the ninth with no outs. Almonte’s sac-fly scored Martinez making it 8-4, but that would be the final run for the Indians on the night after Gomes grounded into a double play.
In what would have been a great opportunity for the Indians to pick up some ground and finally get some space from the .500 mark, they fell short at the plate going 4-14 with runners in scoring position, dropping their record to 72-73.
Tomorrow they start the final series of the now 10 game homestand against the Chicago White Sox.
Tomorrow’s matchup:
RHP Cody Anderson vs LHP Chris Sale
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