Corey Kluber whiffs Ten Royals in Cleveland Win

Jul 6, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher

(28) delivers in the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

The Royals ran into a hot pitcher in Cleveland’s Corey Kluber, who held Kansas City to 4 hits while piling up 10 strikeouts on his way to a 4-1 win at Jacobs Field Sunday afternoon.

The Royals single tally came on a solo home run from Mike Moustakas in 5th inning. Aside from that one breakthrough, Kluber pretty much put the Royals to sleep.

The loss drops the Royals to 45-42. Kansas City has missed a golden opportunity to gain ground on first-place Detroit this weekend, who has lost 3 straight. The Royals remain 4 games behind in sole possession of 2nd place in the American League Central.

On the Mound

Danny Duffy just didn’t have it in him to stay with the more-impressive Kluber. Duffy lasted 6.0 innings, allowing 10 hits, 0 walks and 4 earned runs with 6 strikeouts. Three out of the Indians 4 runs came off of home runs by Carlos Santana (13) and Yan Gomes (10).

Scott Downs pitched a scoreless 7th in his first action since signing with Kansas City yesterday.

Bruce Chen also pitched a clean inning in the 8th.

At the Plate

There’s not much of a story to tell after Kluber held the Royals to 4 hits in 8 innings—though 2 of the 4 went for extra-bases.

Mike Moustakas’ home run was pretty much it. Moustakas went 1-2 with his home run (10), 1 walk, 1 run scored and 1 RBI.

Eric Hosmer had the only other extra-base hit with his double off Kluber to begin the 9th inning.

This and That

Mike Moustakas also make a nice pick at 3rd base on a hard grounder by Yan Gomes. Moustakas threw to second for the force on Nick Swisher to end the inning.

The Royals signed Scott Downs Sunday afternoon to address their revolving door at mop-up reliever. The 38-year-old Downs had been released by the Chicago White Sox after compiling a 6.08 ERA in 38 appearances this season. Downs has now pitched for the Chicago Cubs, Montreal Expos, Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox and now the Royals in his 13-year career.

I guess that’s what you call a journeyman.

Jarrod Dyson swiped his 14th base of the season after beating out an infield single to shortstop Mike Aviles in 3rd

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

Mike Moustakas is the obvious choice, with his 10th home run, walk, and nice play on Gomes’ grounder in the 8th. The Royals will need more games like that from Moustakas if they are to make a 2nd half charge to the playoffs.

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• Billy Butler – 2
• Danny Valencia
• Christian Colon
• Raul Ibanez
• Jarrod Dyson – 2
• Lorenzo Cain – 5
• Johnny Giavotella
• Wade Davis
• Norichika Aoki
• Salvador Perez – 5
• Jeremy Guthrie  – 5
• Jason Vargas – 6
• Alex Gordon – 9
• Bruce Chen
• James Shields – 6
• Yordano Ventura – 4
• Mike Moustakas
• Danny Duffy – 6
• Omar Infante – 3
• Mike Moustakas – 5
• Alcides Escobar – 5
• Eric Hosmer – 9
• Michael Mariot

The Indians

Catcher Yan Gomes had the big night for Cleveland at the plate, going 2-4 with a 2-run home run (10), a double, 1 run scored, and 2 RBI’s on the night. Mike Moustakas also robbed him of a single on his hard-hit grounder in the 8th.

Up Next

The Royals travel to Tampa for a 3-game series. Kansas City will face former Royals Jake Odorizzi (4-7, 4.18 ERA) while sending James Shields (8-4, 3.93 ERA) to pitch against his former club in a matchup of starters from 2013’s big winter trade between the two teams.  Let’s hope Shields’ old stomping grounds will shake him out of his funk. Game time in 6:10 CST at Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay.

Box

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.

2B: E Hosmer (22, off C Kluber).
HR: M Moustakas (10, off C Kluber, 5th inn, 0 on, 1 out to Deep RF Line).
TB: M Moustakas 4; E Hosmer 2; L Cain; J Dyson.
RBI: M Moustakas (35).
Team LOB: 4.
With RISP: 0 for 5.
Fielding
DP: 1. M Moustakas-C Colon-E Hosmer.
Baserunning
SB: J Dyson (14, 2nd base off C Kluber/Y Gomes).

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.

2B: M Aviles (8, off D Duffy); Y Gomes (12, off D Duffy).
HR: C Santana (13, off D Duffy, 2nd inn, 0 on, 0 outs to Deep RF); Y Gomes (10, off D Duffy, 2nd inn, 1 on, 1 out to Deep CF).
TB: Y Gomes 6; C Santana 4; M Brantley 2; M Aviles 2; J Kipnis; A Cabrera; N Swisher; R Raburn.
GIDP: C Santana (10).
RBI: Y Gomes 2 (32); M Brantley (57); C Santana (33).
Team LOB: 6.
With RISP: 1 for 6.

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.

Balks: None.
WP: None.
HBP: None.
IBB: None.
Pickoffs: None.