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Royals rally for victory with help of Tribe pitching
AP
Photo
Cleveland Indians' Carlos Santana, left, collides with Kansas City Royals catcher Matt Treanor (15) while trying to score on a single hit by Travis Hafner during the eighth inning of a baseball game Thursday, April 21, 2011, in Kansas City, Mo. Santana was out on the play. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo.
Melky Cabrera rifled a bases-loaded, two-run single into left field off Cleveland closer Chris Perez with one out in the ninth inning Thursday night, lifting Kansas City to a 3-2 victory over the Indians.
Perez (0-1), who had been 6 for 6 in save opportunities and was unscored upon in 72/3 innings, started the ninth and got in immediate trouble when Kila Ka’aihue doubled leading off.
Pinch runner Mike Aviles went to third when Mitch Maier hit a pinch single. Alcides Escobar grounded to third baseman Jack Hannahan, who threw out Aviles at home for the first out. Chris Getz walked, loading the bases and Cabrera delivered.
Aaron Crow (2-0) pitched one inning for the victory, which gave the Royals a split of the four-game series.
Cleveland starter Josh Timlin pitched seven strong innings while going for his fourth victory in four decisions. Grady Sizemore had three hits and an RBI for the Indians.
Timlin gave up one run on five hits, with a walk and four strikeouts. He lowered his ERA from 2.75 to 2.33.
Tony Sipp came out of the bullpen after Timlim walked Getz leading off the eighth. He stole second and third, raising the Royals’ league-leading total to 26 stolen bases. When Sipp walked Alex Gordon with two out and Vinnie Pestano relieved, Jeff Francoeur grounded an RBI single up the middle that shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera stopped from going through, possibly preventing the tying run from scoring.
The Indians scored both runs off Sean O’Sullivan (1-2) in the fifth. Matt LaPorta singled leading off and Jack Hannahan walked and both were sacrificed up a base before Sizemore lifted a bloop RBI single that dropped at Cabrera’s shoes in shallow center.
After O’Sullivan walked Cabrera, loading the bases, Shin-Soo Choo hit a sinking liner to left field. Alex Gordon scooped the ball off the grass and jumped to his feet and threw out Sizemore trying for third as Hannahan scored the second run.