Royals’ Greinke, pen stifle Indians

Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo.

If the Royals have a best-case scenario, it probably starts with Zack Greinke, closes with Joakim Soria and includes just enough offense.

Case in point: Tuesday night’s 2-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians at Kauffman Stadium.

Greinke worked six strong innings and, thanks to homers by Yuniesky Betancourt and Wilson Betemit, handed a lead to the bullpen. Jesse Chavez and Blake Wood got the game to Soria.

And Soria responded by converting his 27th straight save opportunity, although the Indians made him work after Michael Brantley opened the ninth inning by serving a single into center field.

Betancourt and first baseman Kila Ka’aihue then combined on a nice play for the first out when Betancourt ranged into the shortstop hole to corral Asdrubal Cabrera’s grounder.

Betancourt made an off-balance throw to first that Ka’aihue saved with a fine stretch. Even so, Brantley moved to second.

Soria fought back from a 3-1 count to strike out Shin-Soo Choo on two close-called strikes. Soria finished off the game by striking out Travis Hafner on a called third strike.

The victory enabled the Royals, 50-69, to pull one game ahead of the Indians, 49-70, in their battle to avoid last place in the American League Central.

Both teams squandered multiple scoring opportunities. The Indians stranded 12 runners, while the Royals left nine.

The Indians nicked Greinke, 8-11, for one run in the second inning, but the Royals answered with power when Betancourt went deep in the fifth and Wilson Betemit followed in the sixth.

Greinke handed that 2-1 lead to Chavez to start the seventh inning. Greinke allowed one run and five hits while throwing 105 pitches in his six innings for his 17th “quality start” in 25 outings.