Royals beat Tribe in 10 innings



Kansas City may have lost first baseman Mike Sweeney to a sore back.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- A hanger was all that remained in Mike Sweeney's empty locker, a disturbing and possibly disastrous sign for the Kansas City Royals.
Sweeney, the club's All-Star first baseman, was to undergo an MRI today to determine what is causing the tightness in his upper back that has kept him sidelined a week.
Sweeney flew to Kansas City late Wednesday night and will be examined by team's Dr. Steve Joyce.
"Of course I'm concerned," Royals manager Tony Pena said following Kansas City's 3-1 win in 10 innings over the Cleveland Indians. "But this is a 25-man ballclub."
Hasn't played in a week
And a first-place one at that. However, Sweeney is the one player the Royals can't afford to be without.
Sweeney's .477 average with runners in scoring position leads the majors, and he ranks among the AL leaders in average, walks and on-base percentage.
Sweeney last played on June 18, leaving a win against Minnesota after striking out in his only at-bat. He had been getting daily treatments on his back, but Pena said it wasn't getting any better.
The Royals sent Sweeney back to the team hotel before Wednesday's game.
Rookie Angel Berroa and Desi Relaford hit RBI singles in the 10th inning as the Royals continued their recent domination of the AL Central.
Kansas City is 23-6 within the division and has gone 9-3 in its last 12.
The Royals haven't been in first place this late in the season since 1987.
"We've been playing like a first-place team," Pena said. "But we have a long way to go, and I don't want any of my guys to worry about what other teams are doing or other scores."
Raul Ibanez doubled off David Riske (1-1) to open Kansas City's 10th, and Michael Tucker sacrificed. With Cleveland's infield playing on the grass, Berroa lined a single over their heads into right.
After Carlos Febles reached on a two-out infield single, Relaford brought home Berroa.
Jason Gilfillan (1-1) pitched one inning for the win and Mike MacDougal worked the 10th for his 18th save in 22 opportunities.
Tribe struggles with Royals
The Indians dropped to 1-7 against Kansas City this season, and are 1-8 in extra innings.
"They got us again," Indians starter Brian Anderson said. "We're going to have to figure out a way to beat these guys. They're in our division. Right now, they own us."
Anderson allowed one run and seven hits in eight innings, but came away with a tough no-decision when the Indians couldn't push a second run across.
They loaded the bases with one out in the eighth, but Royals reliever Jason Grimsley got Ben Broussard to hit into an inning-ending double play to keep it tied at 1.
The Indians played superb defense behind Anderson from the outset, but first baseman Broussard's wide throw to second helped the Royals tie it 1-1 in the eighth on Febles' bloop RBI single to right that hit the foul line.
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