KANSAS CITY, Missouri (AP) – Maikel Franco and Bubba Starling played RBI singles in the eighth innings as the Kansas City Royals recovered to beat the Cleveland Indians 2-1 on Monday night in the first game in a three-game series.
It’s the Royals’ first win this season when they’re behind seven innings.
“They stay playing,” Kansas City manager Mike Matheny said.”That’s the message before the game. We’re going to pay attention to the little things.
“They just moved on, even when we were depressed. I felt like we were about to do something.
Scott Barlow (2-1) won the relay for Kansas City.He pitched one inning, allowing two hits and no career. Greg Holland recorded his stop for the time being.
James Karinchak (0-2) carried the defeat. He walked the first two batters he faced and scored on hits through Franco and Starling.
“It’s tough; I haven’t had a bat in a week,” Starling said. I put myself on defense and am managing the bases. But I kept locked in. Going into this fight opposite a leaded guy, I just tried to stay in the middle, much of the field.
Shane Bieber continued his start to the 2020 season: He pitched six scoreless innings, retired nine and allowed just one hit. He also reduced his primary league ERA lead to 1.20 and increased his primary league lead to 84 strikeouts.
Bieber was not happy with his evening.
“It was difficult, ” he said. I’ve never come into a rhythm.I’m a guy who trusts the early rhythm.This is where I have my most productive outings. I had a hard time locating that pace.
“It became clear from the beginning that his technique to make me launch, not to chase anything out of the area.They did not swing to break balls under the zone or smart chase shots and took fastballs in the area.
“I felt like we were able to counter that pretty well. Obviously, 4 walks are not ideal, but we struggle.It was a bit frustrating outing, but overall we ended up getting there.
Brad Keller allowed a run in 6 0.33 innings and 3 hits, gave one walk base and scored 4 outs.
“I felt like I had accumulated my pitching count in the first inning,” Keller said.”I felt like I was even though everything was at a pace, but not before the fourth, fifth or sixth innings.Despite todo.me they gave the fastball where I wanted to go.
The pitcher duel was no surprise, with Bieber and Keller on the mound. Bieber crowned MLB with a 1.35 MPM in seven starts.Keller did not allow a run in his first three starts after starting the season on the disabled list recovering from COVID-19.He allowed five runs and six hits in 4 innings in his final start and had 2.08 MPM.
The headlines lived up to expectations. Over the course of six innings, Bieber and Keller had given a hit.Keller retired 11 in a row at one point.
The Indians were still handed over to Keller in the seventh.After leaving Francisco Lindor from the beginning, he handed a bachelor to Carlos Santana, then a driving shooter to Franmil Reyes.Keller left after allowing a three-hit run.He was too opposed to Bieber.
Once Bieber left the game, the Royals scored two runners in the seventh, but Nick Wittgren caught his shoulder over a whit Merrifield line to end the threat.
COACH’S ROOM
Royals C Salvador Pérez remains on the disabled list for 10 days however his workload, according to manager Mike Matheny.No date has been given for his return.
MOVE THE LIST
Cleveland traded RHP Mike Clevinger, OF Greg Allen and a player who would later be named to San Diego in exchange for an aspiring parent organization, all on the 60-man list.The Indians won INF Gabriel Arias, LZ Joey Cantillo, C Austin Hedges, INF Owen Miller, 1B/ OF Josh Naylor and RHP Cal Quantrill.Naylor, Hedges and Quantrill will be on the primary league list as soon as they are reported. To make room on the 40-man list, OF Domingo Santana was assigned for assignment.
The Royals placed RHP Ian Kennedy in the 10-day IL and called RHP Chance Adams.They also activated IL’s OF Nick Heath and opted for their choice site.
Following
The Indians will send RHP Zach Plesac (1-1, 1.29 ERA). Plesac will take the mound for the first time since Aug. 8 after getting optioned for violating protocols. In 3 starts, Plesac owns a 1.29 ERA with 24 strikeouts and two walks in 21 innings.
The Royals will receive Matt Harvey (0-1, 11.12 ERA).Harvey, making his third inning start in the season, has failed to make it to the third inning so far.He did not allow one run in the first two innings of either, but allowed seven runs in 1 2/3.in the third inning.
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