Royals 5 - 3 Guardians
Final
  for this game

Gordon powers Royals past Indians

Jul 31, 2011 - 10:47 PM

Video

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Alex Gordon hit a solo homer and scored twice as the Royals took down the Indians, 5-3, in the rubber match of a three-game set at Progressive Field.

Jeff Francoeur added a solo homer and Billy Butler knocked in a run for Kansas City, winners in three of its last four.

Danny Duffy (3-4) earned the win, giving up two runs on eight hits over five innings. Duffy made the start for Kyle Davies, who was scratched due to right shoulder inflammation.

Carlos Santana had two hits, including an RBI triple, and Jason Kipnis hit a solo home run for Cleveland, which has lost eight of its last 10.

Fausto Carmona (5-11) was pegged with the loss after surrendering four runs on six hits in 7 1/3 innings.

Kansas City added a run in the eighth to go up 4-2. Gordon drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on Melky Cabrera's double and scored on Butler's sacrifice fly.

The Indians came right back with a run in the home half to make it 4-3. Ezequiel Carrera, who entered the game as a pinch hitter, doubled, moved to third on a passed ball and then scored when pinch-hitter Travis Hafner grounded out to short.

The Royals added an insurance run in the ninth to take their 5-3 lead. Chris Getz singled, stole second, then scored on Alcides Escobar's single.

Joakim Soria, who blew a save Saturday night, walked one in the ninth with one out but got a double play to seal the win for Kansas City and earn his 20th save.

The Royals took a 1-0 lead in the second after Francoeur led off with a solo homer. Francoeur blasted the 0-1 offering over the left field wall for his 14th home run of the season.

"We hit some homers this trip and that's good," said Royals manager Ned Yost. "(Gordon's) today was a nice homer and (Francoeur) started it off with a homer, so two more homers today it was big in the scoring."

Kansas City came back with another run in the fourth to extend its lead to 2-0. Francoeur walked and scored on Mike Moustakas' double down the right field line. Francoeur originally stopped at third, but after Kosuke Fukudome's cut-off throw skipped under Kipnis' glove he was able to score.

Gordon homered in the fifth to put the Royals up 3-0. Gordon fell behind 0-2, but sent Carmona's slider over the fence in center.

Cleveland scored two in the home half to cut its deficit to 3-2. Kipnis hit a solo homer -- the first of his career -- to right. Asbrudal Cabrera followed with a double to right before scoring on Santana's triple off the right field wall.

"It was a dissapointing homestand," said Indians manager Manny Acta. "The fact that we play better at home and come over here and lose three series in a row is very dissapointing."

Game Notes

Eric Hosmer snapped an 11-game hit streak, but Melky Cabrera extended his to seven...Fukudome had his first hit since joining the Indians July 28...The Tribe fell to 16-18 against the AL Central.






Related News