Indians double up Royals

Four-run 6th inning provides final 8-4 margin

Much like this season, it was a day when everything came up short for the Royals: wild pitch on a called third strike, an RBI single on a fly ball that a healthy Lorenzo Cain catches, Jason Hammel one pitch from getting out of the deciding inning. And, in the end, Kansas City falls to Cleveland.

Early on, “double” was the theme of the day. In the first inning, each team hit into a double play. The Royals continued this trend in the second but someone forgot to tell Jay Bruce. He doubled off the top of the wall, went to third on a wild pitch third strike, and trotted home on a sac fly to give the Indians a 1-0 lead. Alex Gordon, guardian of orthodoxy, could not let this stand. He crushed a 421’ home run to left and tied the game. The Royals put two more on and there was a weird Whit Merrifield slide where he got picked off but evaded the tag at second. Unfortunately, they scored no more that half inning.

In the bottom of the third, the Indians retook the lead, bunching up some hits and baserunners. Francisco Lindor singled, Austin Jackson walked, Carlos Santana singled (RBI), and Edwin Encarnacion hit a sacrifice fly. 3-1 Indians. But the Royals immediately cut the lead in half in the top of the 4th. Melky Cabrera led off with a double, went to third on a wild pitch (favor returned), and scored on a Brandon Moss sacrifice fly.

Indians bats sounded like they were crushing Hammel all day. I mean, audibly, it sounded like everything was getting hit hard.

Lucky That One didn’t leave the park. -philofthenorth

This next one too -Loose Seal

They just sound like they're getting hammered -sterlingice

I keep looking up because it sounds like all these balls are leaving the park -Shaun Newkirk

Unfortunately, those chickens came home to roost in the 6th. Yandy Diaz and Abraham Almonte singled to put runners at first and second. But Yan Gomes couldn't a bunt down and Giovanny Urshela flew out. It looked like Hammel might get out of it. One strike away, on a 1-2 count, Lindor- because of course it had to be Lindor- doubled high off the wall and both runners scored. Austin Jackson followed with a single up the middle. Cain came up firing but couldn't get Lindor. Butera threw it back to 2nd to get Jackson and it went into center field, away from where Cain was, and Jackson scored the little league home run.

As has often been the case this season, the Royals rallied. Alcides Escobar and Drew Butera doubled. Merrifield singled and the Royals had shrunk the lead by 2. That ended Carlos Carrasco’s day, the Indians starter surrendering 4 runs in 6.2 innings with 8 hits, 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts. But, similarly, has been the case this season, the Indians answered with an Edwin Encarnacion solo home run off of Kevin McCarthy. This provided the final margin of 8-4.

The Royals drop back to 2 under .500. The Royals are 4.5 back of the Twins with only 14 to play. More frustrating still, no one seems to be able to claim the 2nd Wild Card. Seattle already lost and Baltimore and Tampa Bay are losing. Tomorrow Kansas City faces AL Cy Young favorite Corey Kluber. It could potentially be Danny Duffy Day, as he is on track to be activated for tomorrow’s start. Cleveland’s magic number to clinch the division is 1 so they may be celebrating tonight. Maybe the Royals can get their drinking night lineup tomorrow.