Final
Royals beat Indians to take series
Sep 11, 2013 - 9:19 PM Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Alex Gordon set the tone by homering to lead off the game and James Shields pitched into the ninth inning, as the Kansas City Royals posted a 6-2 win over the Cleveland Indians in the rubber match of a three-game set between playoff hopefuls.Emilio Bonifacio had three hits and scored two runs for the Royals, who are now a half-game behind the Indians and 2 1/2 games back of Tampa Bay for the second AL wild-card spot.
Shields (11-9) allowed two first-inning hits, the second a two-out, two-run single by Michael Brantley. He then silenced Cleveland's bats until Jason Kipnis and Carlos Santana opened the ninth with consecutive hits.
Greg Holland, however, shut down the rally by striking out the next three batters to pick up his 42nd save.
Shields surrendered just the four hits, walked one and struck out seven.
"I made some good pitches in the first and they got two runs, but the team did a good job of getting me out to an early lead and tacking on some runs later in the game," Shields said.
Scott Kazmir (8-8) started for the Indians and gave up four runs -- three earned -- on nine hits in four-plus innings.
Gordon drove Kazmir's first pitch to right-center field, sparking a three-run opening frame. Bonifacio followed with a triple past a sliding Drew Stubbs in right and scored on an Eric Hosmer single. Back-to-back singles by Justin Maxwell and Lorenzo Cain plated Hosmer with two outs.
"First-pitch fastball, low and away, felt like it was a good pitch and (Gordon) put a good swing on it. That type of stuff happens," Kazmir said.
Kazmir, like Shields, his former Rays rotation mate, settled down over the next couple innings before Bonifacio and Hosmer both singled to begin the fifth. Bonifacio advanced to second on Kazmir's errant pickoff attempt and took third on the hit by Hosmer.
Bryan Shaw relieved Kazmir and inherited the first-and-third situation. Bonifacio wound up scoring when Billy Butler grounded into a double play.
The Royals continued to tack on against the Cleveland bullpen. Gordon scored from third on another botched pickoff throw to first by Rich Hill in the seventh, and birthday boy Mike Moustakas added an RBI single off Matt Albers an inning later.
Game Notes
Gordon extended his club record with his 13th career leadoff homer ... Kazmir and Shields started the first two games of the 2008 World Series for Tampa Bay ... Holland has converted 35 of his last 36 save opportunities ... Moustakas turned 25 on Wednesday.
- KANSAS CITY: 6
CLEVELAND: 2
Final
Sep 11 3:05 PM - Mike Moustakas singled to center scored Lorenzo Cain. Runner on first with two outs and Alcides Escobar due up.
Royals 6, Guardians 2 Top 8, 2 OutsSep 11 2:35 PM - Rich Hill's throwing error scored Alex Gordon, Emilio Bonifacio advances to second. Runner on second with one out and Eric Hosmer at the plate.
Royals 5, Guardians 2 Top 7, 1 OutSep 11 2:07 PM - Billy Butler grounded into a double play, third to second to first scored Emilio Bonifacio. Eric Hosmer out at second. None on with two outs and Salvador Perez due up.
Royals 4, Guardians 2 Top 5, 2 OutsSep 11 1:34 PM - Michael Brantley singled to center scored Michael Bourn and Mike Aviles. Runner on first with two outs and Yan Gomes due up.
Royals 3, Guardians 2 Bot 1, 2 OutsSep 11 12:33 PM - Lorenzo Cain singled to center scored Eric Hosmer. On the play, Justin Maxwell advances to second. Runners on first and second with two outs and Jamey Carroll due up.
Royals 3, Guardians 0 Top 1, 2 OutsSep 11 12:20 PM - Eric Hosmer singled to center scored Emilio Bonifacio. Runner on first with none out and Billy Butler due up.
Royals 2, Guardians 0 Top 1, 0 OutsSep 11 12:10 PM - Alex Gordon lead-off Home Run (19) to right center. Emilio Bonifacio due up.
Royals 1, Guardians 0 Top 1, 0 OutsSep 11 12:08 PM - KANSAS CITY: 0
CLEVELAND: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Sep 11 12:07 PM
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