Royals 2, Indians 1
CLEVELAND -- Eric Hosmer's home run with two outs in the top of the ninth inning broke a 1-1 tie and lifted the streaking Kansas City Royals to a 2-1 win over the fading Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night at Progressive Field.
The Royals won four in a row while the Indians lost six in a row and were outscored 37-10 in those games.
Hosmer connected off right-hander Trevor Bauer (8-8), who pitched a five-hit complete game.
With one out in the ninth inning, center fielder Lorenzo Cain was thrown out trying to steal second base by Indians catcher Yan Gomes. But first baseman Hosmer then belted a 3-2 pitch over the right field wall for his 11th home run. Five of Hosmer's 11 home runs have come against Cleveland.
The win went to right-hander Wade Davis (7-1), who pitched a scoreless eighth. Right-hander Greg Holland pitched the ninth go pick up his 22nd save.
Bauer was effective and economical throughout. Through seven innings, his pitch count was at 78. Bauer faced just 24 batters in the first seven innings, three over the minimum.
But with the score tied 1-1 and one out in the top of the eighth inning, Bauer ran into trouble. Second baseman Omar Infante hit a double off the left field wall. Left fielder Jarrod Dyson, the next batter, walked, putting runners at first and third with one out.
But Bauer got shortstop Alcides Escobar to hit a grounder to second baseman Mike Aviles that became a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play, as the game remained tied.
Right-hander Chris Young started for the Royals and pitched 4 2/3 innings and only allowed one unearned run. Young was unable to control Cleveland's running game, but the Indians couldn't take advantage of it. In the first five innings, the Indians had six hits, three walks, and six stolen bases, but could only score one run.
Young and Bauer matched zeroes for most of the first five innings.
The Royals scored a run in the fourth inning after Bauer held Kansas City scoreless on one hit through the first three innings, facing the minimum nine batters.
With two outs and nobody on in the fourth, Cain hit a fly ball to deep right center. Right fielder Brandon Moss made a nice over-the-head catch while running full speed but took three strides and slammed into the wall. The ball was jarred out of his glove during the collision.
The speedy Cain made it to third for a triple, but Cleveland manager Terry Francona challenged the call, saying it should have been ruled a catch by Moss for the third out of the inning. After a brief review, the umpires upheld the original call.
First baseman Eric Hosmer then blooped an RBI single just over the outstretched glove of shortstop Francisco Lindor. Cain scored on the play to give Kansas City a 1-0 lead.
The Indians had six stolen bases in the first five innings, including two in the fifth, which led to the tying run. Center fielder Michael Bourn singled, stole second, stole third and scored on a throwing error to third base by catcher Salvador Perez.
NOTES: Two days after acquiring RHP Johnny Cueto in a trade with the Reds, the Royals on Tuesday acquired INF/OF Ben Zobrist from the Oakland A's in exchange for LHP Sean Manaea and RHP Aaron Brooks. Zobrist is expected to join the Royals on Thursday in Toronto. To make room on the roster for Zobrist, the Royals designated RHP Joe Blanton for assignment. ... The Indians selected the contract of LHP Michael Roth from Triple-A Columbus. To make room on the roster for Roth, 1B Jesus Aguilar was optioned to Columbus. ... Indians OF David Murphy was a late scratch from the lineup after the Indians traded him to the Angels. ... Indians LHP Nick Hagadone, who had surgery on July 26 to repair a fracture in his left elbow, has been transferred from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list.