Cleveland Guardians vs Kansas City Royals Match Player Stats On Aug 20, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Aug 20, 2017

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The bottom four in the Kansas City lineup -- Jorge Bonifacio, Alcides Escobar, Cheslor Cuthbert and Cameron Gallagher -- came up huge in the Royals' 7-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Sunday.

The four combined to go 9-for-14 with all seven RBIs, scored four runs, had a sacrifice fly and drew a walk.

Cuthbert homered and drove in three runs. Escobar extended his hitting streak to a season-high 11 games with two hits and three RBIs. Bonifacio had three hits, including a double, and scored twice. Gallagher added two singles, walked and drove in a run.

Gallagher, Bonifacio and Cuthbert did not have an at-bat in the first two games of the series.

Jason Hammel (6-9) picked up his third victory over the Indians this season. He allowed three runs, five hits and a walk with three strikeouts in six innings. He is 3-0 with a 3.37 ERA in three starts this season against Cleveland.

Danny Salazar (5-6), who had a 1.39 ERA in five starts since coming off the disabled list on July 22, was roughed up for a career-high 12 hits and six runs in 4 2/3 innings. That was the most hits an Indians starter has allowed this season.

The Royals grouped three hits and a walk in the second inning for two runs. Mike Moustakas led off the inning with a walk, stopped at third on Bonifacio's double to center and scored on Escobar's single. Gallagher's one-out single to shallow center got Bonifacio home.

The 2-0 Kansas City lead did not last long.

Kyle Zimmer led off the Cleveland third with a bunt single and scored on Francisco Lindor's 20th home run, which landed high off the right-field foul pole. Lindor should have been out before the home run. He popped up a foul ball that fell between Cuthbert and Gallagher, giving him new life.

The Indians went ahead 3-2 in the top of the fourth when Jay Bruce, who singled to extend his hitting streak to 10 games, scored on Austin Jackson's sacrifice fly.

The Royals tied it in the bottom of the inning when Cuthbert went deep to left on an 0-2 pitch from Salazar. Cuthbert is 5-for-8 lifetime against Salazar.

The Royals scored three in the fifth and chased Salazar. Cuthbert had a two-out, two-run RBI single and Escobar singled home the other run.

Escobar's seventh inning sacrifice fly scored Moustakas to cap the Royals' scoring.

The Indians got a run in the ninth after Austin Jackson led off with a triple and scored on Yan Gomes' groundout.

Hammel worked a spotless opening inning, striking out two. He has a 1.44 ERA in the first inning, allowing four earned runs in 25 innings.

NOTES: Indians RHP Corey Kluber threw a side session to test his right ankle, which he sprained Friday and exited in the sixth inning. The Indians have not yet determined whether Kluber will make his Wednesday start against Boston. ... The Royals plan to activate All-Star C Salvador Perez on Tuesday or Wednesday. He is on the disabled list with a strained right intercostal. ... Royals 2B Whit Merrifield led off the first inning with a ground-ball single to center, snapping an 0-for-23 slump. ... The Royals' 15 hits matched the most the Indians have given up in a game this season. ... The Indians open a four-game home series on Monday against the Boston Red Sox. Boston LHP Eduardo Rodriguez and Cleveland RHP Mike Clevinger are the probables. The Indians have lost two of three games to the Red Sox this season. ... The Royals are off Monday before hosting the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday in the opener of a three-game interleague series.