Royals 6, Indians 4
Mitch Maier and Kila Ka’aihue drove in two runs each Sunday afternoon as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Cleveland Indians 6-4.
Luke Hochevar labored through six innings for the Royals, who avoided a three-game sweep. Kansas City also tied the season series at seven wins apiece and moved within one-half game of the Indians in the battle for the American League Central basement.
Kansas City got to Cleveland starter Josh Tomlin for four runs in the second. Wilson Betemit drew a bases-loaded walk for the first run and capped the frame with a steal of home. Maier added a two-run single in between.
Ka’aihue added a two-run double in the sixth for Kansas City, which had lost 11 of its last 15 games.
Hochevar (6-5) survived six innings and 11 baserunners. The first overall pick in the 2006 draft was charged with three runs and eight hits and struck out five. Two relievers got the Royals to the ninth where Joakim Soria extended his scoreless innings streak to 20 with his 39th save of the season.
Tomlin (4-4) allowed six runs and six hits in five-plus innings with two walks and four strikeouts.
Shin Soo Choo hit his fourth home run of the series for Cleveland, a two-run shot in the first to open the scoring.
Michael Brantley singled in the seventh for Cleveland to extend his hitting streak to 19 games, the most by a rookie in franchise history since Larry Doby hit in 21 straight in 1948.