Paul DeJong hit a two-run homer as the surging Kansas City Royals won their third straight over host Cleveland, prevailing 6-1 on Tuesday to move into a first-place tie with the Guardians atop the American League Central.
After sweeping a doubleheader on Monday to open a four-game series, the Royals rode DeJong’s second-inning homer and a three-run seventh to their 10th victory in 13 games. Kansas City owns the tiebreaker with a 7-2 mark vs. Cleveland, which has lost nine of its past 12 and is 24-32 since holding a nine-game division lead on June 25.
Four Kansas City relievers retired the final 15 Cleveland hitters.
Royals starter Michael Lorenzen, who entered 2-0 with a 1.99 ERA in four starts since being acquired from the Texas Rangers, exited in the second inning with a left hamstring strain apparently sustained while covering first base on ground ball.
With runners on the corners, the right-hander stayed in the game and struck out Cleveland’s Lane Thomas. However, Lorenzen left with a 1-0 count on Bo Naylor, who struck out against Carlos Hernandez to end the frame.
Following a lengthy weather delay in the fifth inning, Kansas City’s James McArthur (5-5), John Schreiber, Sam Long and Chris Stratton did not allow a baserunner.
In the second, Kansas City’s Salvador Perez singled, then scored when DeJong took a fastball from Gavin Williams (2-7) the opposite way and into the right field seats.
The Guardians got their run in the fourth. Hernandez issued a two-out walk to David Fry, who went to second on Daniel Schneemann’s hit and scored via Thomas’ seeing-eye single.
The Royals padded their lead in the seventh. Cleveland reliever Scott Barlow allowed RBI singles to Maikel Garcia and Michael Massey, hit a batter, walked one and unleashed a run-scoring wild pitch while recording just one out.
Cleveland’s Pedro Avila relieved Barlow and hit Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. on the forearm with a pitch. Witt stayed in the game.
Williams fanned six over five innings. He gave up two runs on three hits and two walks.