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Indians down Royals in extras

Apr 19, 2011 - 5:49 AM Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Shelley Duncan's RBI, pinch-hit double paved the way for a four-run 10th inning to lead Cleveland over Kansas City, 7-3, in the opener of a four-game set.

Grady Sizemore, in his second game back from the disabled list, went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored to help the Indians win their fourth consecutive game.

"I'm still getting a feel out there, but I feel good now and having some early success, which is always going to make it easier for you," said Sizemore.

Reliever Joe Smith (1-0) earned the win for Cleveland in 1 1/3 innings of work while allowing just one walk and no hits.

Kansas City relief pitcher Tim Collins (1-1) allowed four runs on four hits and two walks in the 10th inning to give the Royals their second loss in a row.

"We didn't help ourselves. That's for sure," said Royals manager Ned Yost. "We really struggled to command the ball, especially out of the pen. Leadoff walks in the seventh and 10th inning really hurt us in those situations."

Cleveland struck in the first when Carlos Santana doubled to score Shin-Soo Choo after he singled and stole second with two outs.

Kansas City answered back in the second when Wilson Betemit hit a sacrifice fly that scored Billy Butler, who led off the inning with a walk and was moved to third on Jeff Francoeur's double.

Choo's sac fly scored Sizemore in the third for a 2-1 lead for the Indians.

The back-and-forth continued in the sixth when the Royals took the lead with a Melky Cabrera double that scored Mike Aviles, and an Alex Gordon single that scored Cabrera.

Michael Brantley walked to lead off the seventh for Cleveland and moved to third on reliever Jeremy Jeffress' throwing error on an attempted pick-off. Matt LaPorta's single to left scored Brantley to even the game at 3-3.

Cleveland managed to load the bases in the inning when Sizemore and Asdrubal Cabrera worked back-to-back, one-out walks. Aaron Crow entered the game in relief of Jeffress and struck out Choo looking and got Santana to pop out to short to keep the score tied.

Kansas City had bases loaded in the eighth with a chance to take the lead when Smith entered the game and allowed a walk to Francoeur before getting Betemit to foul out on the third base side to end the threat.

Santana lead off the 10th inning with a walk and the pinch-hitting Duncan doubled to bring him in for the game-deciding run. Cleveland added three more in the inning -- a LaPorta grounder would have been an inning ending double- play, but first baseman Kila Ka'aihue couldn't make the scoop on a throwing error by Alcides Escobar, allowing pinch-runner Adam Everett to score.

Jack Hannahan's double and Sizemore's single added two more runs to make the score 7-3.

Neither starter factored in the decision.

Carlos Carrasco went 6 1/3 innings for Cleveland, allowing three runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out four.

Kyle Davies worked six innings and allowed two runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and zero walks for the Royals.

Game Notes

Kansas City is 1-2 in extra inning games this year...The Indians currently hold a two-game lead over the Royals in the American League Central Division.