Royals 8, Indians 4
CLEVELAND -- Omar Infante recorded a single, double, home run and a career-high seven RBIs to lead the Kansas City Royals to an 8-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday at Progressive Field.
Infante hit a three-run homer in the second inning, a two-run double in the fifth and a two-run single in the seventh.
Right-hander Yordano Ventura (12-8) pitched five innings to get the win. The loss went to right-hander Corey Kluber (8-14), who was making his first start since Aug. 29 because of a strained hamstring.
The Royals scored three runs in the second and fifth innings to lead 6-3, and added two insurance runs in the seventh against right-hander Gavin Floyd.
With two outs and nobody on base in the Kansas City seventh, catcher Salvador Perez singled. Right fielder Alex Rios doubled off the left field wall, moving Perez to third.
Second baseman Infante lined a single to left field, scoring Perez and Rios to give Kansas City an 8-3 lead.
Cleveland scored all its runs off Ventura, and the Royals' vaunted bullpen completely shut down the Indians over the next four innings. Right-handers Ryan Madson, Kelvin Herrera, and Wade Davis combined to pitch three scoreless innings on one hit, with three strikeouts and no walks.
Left-hander Franklin Morales came in to pitch the ninth and a throwing error by third baseman Mike Moustakas allowed left fielder Michael Martinez to reach second base. First baseman Carlos Santana and pinch hitter Jerry Sands singled, loading the bases with no outs.
Right-hander Greg Holland relieved Morales. Center fielder Abraham Almonte's sacrifice fly drove in Santana to make it 8-4 before catcher Yan Gomes grounded into a game-ending double play as Holland picked up his 32nd save.
Kluber showed some signs of rust, especially in the second inning, when he gave up three consecutive hits and three runs.
Perez led off the inning by reaching first on a throwing error by third baseman Giovanny Urshela. Perez went to second on a single to left by Rios. Infante then blasted a 1-0 pitch from Kluber over the left field wall for a three-run homer.
It was Infante's second home run of the season and both have come at Progressive Field. Kluber settled down and struck out the middle of the Kansas City lineup in order in the third inning.
Kluber was removed after the fourth inning. He threw 61 pitches and was charged with three runs (two earned) and five hits, with five strikeouts and no walks.
The Indians scored two runs in the second off Ventura. With two outs and nobody on, second baseman Jose Ramirez singled to right field. Urshela hit a line drive back to the mound that ricocheted off Ventura's right ankle and went for a single, moving Ramirez to second.
Second baseman Jason Kipnis singled to left field, scoring Ramirez. A wild throw home by left fielder Ben Zobrist allowed Urshela to also score, cutting the Kansas City lead to 3-2.
The Indians had a chance to score in the fourth when they had runners at first and second with two outs, but Ventura got left fielder Michael Brantley to pop out on a 3-0 pitch to end the inning.
Left-hander Kyle Crockett relieved Kluber to start the fifth inning and after retiring the first batter he walked Moustakas. Designated hitter Kendrys Morales singled, moving Moustakas to second. First baseman Eric Hosmer doubled down the left field line, scoring Moustakas and moving Morales to third.
Right-hander Jeff Manship relieved Crockett and Manship walked Rios before giving up a two-run double to Infante to extend the Kansas City lead to 6-2.
Cleveland got a run back in the bottom of the fifth, which began with a double by Santana. Right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall struck out but center fielder Abraham Almonte singled and catcher Yan Gomes was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out.
Santana scored when Ramirez grounded into a force out at second, cutting the Royals' lead to 6-3. Urshela drew a walk to load the bases with two outs, but Ventura got Kipnis to ground out to end the inning.
NOTES: Royals LHP Danny Duffy, who in his last four starts is 0-2 with a 5.59 ERA, has been moved to the bullpen. He will be replaced in the rotation by RHP Jeremy Guthrie, who in 23 starts earlier this season before being moved to the bullpen was 8-7 with a 5.65 ERA. ... Royals 3B Mike Moustakas has 19 home runs and 72 RBIs, one shy in both categories of his career highs, both set in 2012. ... Indians RHP Trevor Bauer has been moved to the bullpen to make room for RHP Corey Kluber, who returned to the rotation Thursday after missing 2 1/2 weeks with a hamstring strain. Bauer has pitched less than four innings in three of his last six starts. In his last seven starts, he is 2-4 with a 7.63 ERA.