In the third game of a four-game series, the surprising Cleveland Indians pushed their league-best record to 13-5 with a 7-5 comeback win over the Kansas City Royals.
Indians Vs. Royals: Justin Masterson Helps Cleveland Extend Division Lead
The Indians sent Justin Masterson to the mound and watched him allow a pair of first-inning runs, the first scoring on a triple by Alex Gordon and the second on a single by Jeff Francoeur. Between Masterson's early hiccup and Kansas City's Luke Hochevar starting with five perfect innings, it would've been just fine for Cleveland fans to figure this one wasn't in the cards.
But then began the rally. Michael Brantley snapped Hochevar's perfect-game bid with a single to lead off the sixth. He then advanced to second on a balk, and the wheels came off for Hochevar. The Indians would score four runs in an inning that featured five hits, a walk, and two balks, and just like that Cleveland was on top 4-2.
They'd only add on in the next inning, when Jack Hannahan's two-run double blew the game open. Behind 7-2 in the ninth, the Royals made it a game when Melky Cabrera drilled an RBI double and Francoeur blasted a two-run homer, but ultimately Chris Perez retired Mike Aviles on a ground-out to earn his sixth save.
With the win, the Indians restored their AL Central lead to two games over Kansas City. Perhaps more importantly, they also pushed it to six games over Chicago and seven games over Minnesota. All these games count.
The four-game series concludes on Thursday, with Cleveland's Josh Tomlin facing off against Sean O'Sullivan.
For more on the Indians and Royals, please check out team blogs Let’s Go Tribe and Royals Review.
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