Indians’ bullpen falters — again

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Mike Jacobs and Mark Teahen hit back-to-back home runs off Indians closer Kerry Wood and Willie Bloomquist capped the four-run ninth inning with a game-winning sacrifice fly as the Kansas City Royals beat Cleveland 6-5 on Tuesday night.

David DeJesus tripled to score pinch-runner Mitch Maier and tie it at 5 after the home runs. Bloomquist’s flyball to right scored DeJesus.

Wood (1-2) blew a three-run lead after starter Cliff Lee had pitched eight effective innings. The Indians’ bullpen has nine blown saves in 16 opportunities. Wood, Cleveland’s big free agent signing in the offseason, has blown two saves and has an 8.31 ERA.

The last-place Indians have lost four straight.

Kyle Farnsworth (1-3) worked a flawless ninth for Kansas City.

The Indians took a 5-2 lead with three runs in the sixth, including Kelly Shoppach’s two-run homer.

Lee, the AL Cy Young Award winner, held the Royals to two runs and eight hits. He walked none and struck out three. The Indians have scored six runs in Lee’s five losses.

Shoppach homered with Matt LaPorta, who was hit by a pitch from Brian Bannister, aboard with two out. Shin-Soo Choo and Mark DeRosa opened the inning with singles. Choo scored when Ben Francisco grounded into a double play.

Bannister gave up five runs on nine hits, while striking out four, walking one in six innings.

Asdrubal Cabrera led off the game with a double, advanced to second on Grady Sizemore’s fly to center and scored on Victor Martinez’s single. Martinez, who leads the league with a .400 average, went 1-for-3 with a walk.

The Royals tied the score in the second when Teahen’s double scored Jacobs.

The Indians took a 2-1 lead in the fourth when Francisco walked with two outs and scored from first on LaPorta’s single to right.

Sizemore dropped

Sizemore was dropped from the leadoff spot in the Indians’ batting order for the first time since Aug. 24, 2007.

Sizemore, who was given a game off Sunday and came into Tuesday’s game batting .237, hit second against the Royals.

It was the third time in his career he has batted second. The other two times were in April 2005.

The last time Sizemore didn’t lead off, he batted third.

“We’re just trying to take some heat off him,” Indians manager Eric Wedge said. “He’s really been wearing it. He takes this [the team’s losing] to heart. He wants to get us going so bad.

“Maybe seeing another hitter in front of him, giving him a chance to see some pitches, will give him a chance to relax.”

Sizemore, who hit .268 with 33 home runs and 90 RBIs last season and has been an All-Star selection the past three years, has struck out 41 times in 159 at-bats.

He is hitting .214 with runners in scoring position.

Asdrubal Cabrera, who was hitting .311, replaces Sizemore at the top of the order.

Note

Royals RHP Joakim Soria, who is on the disabled list with right rotator cuff inflammation, threw off a flat surface for the first time since going on the disabled list on May 8.