Indians 4, Royals 3
Indians 4 Royals 3: Jason Kipnis and Michael Brantley each connected for two-run homers as Cleveland outlasted visiting Kansas City in the opener of a four-game series.
Kipnis also had a double, Nick Swisher delivered a pair of doubles and Lonnie Chisenhall added two hits for the Indians. Zach McAllister (3-0) allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits over the first six innings and John Axford pitched a perfect ninth for his American League-leading seventh save.
Omar Infante recorded a triple and a run-scoring single while Alex Gordon had two hits and Alcides Escobar knocked in a run for the Royals. Kansas City starter Jeremy Guthrie (2-1) yielded four runs on 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings to lose for the first time in seven April decisions dating back to 2012.
Kipnis doubled to lead off the fourth and trotted home on Brantley’s two-run blast to right field for a 2-0 lead. Kansas City moved in front 3-2 in the fifth on back-to-back doubles by Mike Moustakas and Escobar, a throwing error by McAllister and Infante’s RBI single to left field.
Cleveland went back ahead in the sixth as Swisher led off with a double and scored when Kipnis drove a 0-1 pitch from Guthrie over the center field fence. Marc Rzepczynski and Cody Allen each pitched scoreless frames with one strikeout apiece to bridge the gap to Axford.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Cleveland DH Jason Giambi (fractured rib) was activated from the disabled list and went 0-for-4. The Indians optioned RHP Blake Wood to Triple-A Columbus to make room on the roster. … The Royals activated CF Jarrod Dyson from the bereavement list and he scored a run while gaining an outfield assist when he started a relay to throw out David Murphy at the plate on Swisher’s two-out double in the third inning. …Allen has not allowed an earned run in 11 appearances this season, totaling 8 2/3 innings.