Indians Bats Come Alive to Sweep Royals

Indians manager Terry Francona looked over at bench coach Brad Mills midway through Thursday’s game against the Royals and said.

It wasn’t long until Cleveland took advantage of it.

Francisco Lindor drove in the go-ahead runs during a six-run seventh inning, Jose Ramirez homered twice and Carlos Santana pushed his on-base streak to 27 games as the Indians rallied to beat bumbling Kansas City 8-4 on Thursday and complete a three-game sweep.

Tyler Naquin and Jason Kipnis also drove in runs for the suddenly red-hot Indians, who beat the Royals – losers of four straight and seven of eight – for the fifth time in six meetings.

Adam Cimber (4-2) tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief as the Indians’ bullpen bailed out Zach Plesac. Their ineffective starter allowed three runs and three hits in just 2 2/3 innings.

Kansas City only managed three more hits in a game delayed 2 1/2 hours at the start by rain.

Still, the Royals were clinging to a 3-2 lead in the seventh when Jorge Lopez (1-7) coughed up hits to the only four batters he faced. Kevin Plawecki and Bobby Bradley started the inning with singles, and Naquin doubled home Plawecki before Lindor laced a two-run single to give Cleveland the lead.

Lindor later scored as the Indians proceeded to score six times in the inning.

The Royals’ meltdown wasted another solid start by Homer Bailey, who allowed two runs and six hits in five-plus innings. Bailey still has not lost a game since June 1.

Plesac faced the minimum through the first two innings, but he appeared to struggle with his grip when a muggy afternoon followed all the rain. At one point, Francona and a trainer came out with a towel so that Plesac could dry off his hands and arms.

It didn’t seem to do much for his ability to throw strikes.

Cam Gallagher singled in the third, Terrence Gore walked and Whit Merrifield singled before Adalberto Mondesi laid down a squeeze bunt that the fleet-footed shortstop turned into an RBI base hit.

Hunter Dozier walked later in the inning, and Jorge Soler’s bases-loaded walk gave the Royals a 3-1 lead and brought Francona to the mound again – this time to summon a reliever.

A.J. Cole and Tyler Clippard joined Cimber in keeping the Indians in the game, and their offense got them within a run in the fifth. Two innings later, that offense gave them the lead for good.