Guardians 6 - 5 Royals
Final
  for this game

Indians edge Royals

Jul 3, 2013 - 6:56 AM Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Asdrubal Cabrera and Carlos Santana each drove in a pair of runs as the Cleveland Indians took a 6-5 win over the Kansas City Royals in the opener of a three-game set.

Mark Reynolds and Jason Giambi each drove in a run for the Indians, who were coming off a four-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox.

Corey Kluber gave up four runs on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings for Cleveland. Cody Allen (3-0) retired the final batter of the sixth inning for the win.

"The guys are swinging the bats unbelievably right now," said Kluber.

Alex Gordon hit a grand slam while Billy Butler also drove in a run for the Royals, who had split a four-game set against Minnesota over the weekend.

Luis Mendoza lasted just four innings in the start for Kansas City as he gave up four runs on six hits with four walks. Tim Collins (2-3) was tagged with the loss.

"Its just a rough patch, I've got to go up there and do a better job throwing strikes," said Collins.

Cleveland broke a 4-4 tie in the seventh and got it started with consecutive walks by Cabrera and Jason Kipnis off of Collins. Aaron Crow then took the mound and walked Nick Swisher before Santana lofted a fly ball to center to score one. Giambi later hit a double for a 6-4 lead.

Joe Smith retired the Royals in order in the seventh, but Vinnie Pestano got into trouble in the eighth. Eric Hosmer singled to start the frame and quickly scored on a Butler double to make it a one-run game. A Salvador Perez groundout moved Elliot Johnson, who came on to pinch-run for Butler, to third and Mike Moustakas walked. David Lough, though, hit into a 4-6-3 double play to end the frame.

Chris Perez came on to close the game in the ninth and retired the first batter, but Jarrod Dyson then walked and Gordon singled to put the go-ahead run at first base. Perez, though, struck out Alcides Escobar then got Hosmer to hit into a fielder's choice to end the game for his eighth save of the season.

The Indians loaded the bases in the first inning and scored a pair of runs. Santana drew a walk to score one, and the second run came in when Reynolds was hit by a pitch.

In the fourth, the Indians added to their lead as Cabrera delivered a bases- loaded two-run single for a 4-0 advantage. Kipnis hit into a 5-4-3 double play to end the frame.

Kansas City was held to just one base hit through the first four frames, but was able to tie the game in the fifth on a swing of the bat. Moustakas singled to start the frame, Lough followed with a base hit, and Johnny Giavotella walked to load the bags. After Dyson flied out, Gordon smacked a 3-0 sinker over the right-center wall.

Game Notes

Kipnis, who went 1-for-4 with two runs scored, has a 13-game hitting streak and has reached base safely in 33 straight games ... The Royals batted just 1- for-10 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base ... The Indians have won five of the eight games against the Royals this season.






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