Indians top slumping Royals

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Derek Lowe allowed one run over six innings and the Cleveland Indians handed the Kansas City Royals their 12th straight loss, 4-3 on Tuesday night.

The Royals have been outscored 73-44 during the streak, which ties for third-longest in team history. They also lost 12 in a row in 1997 and 2008. Kansas City lost 13 straight in 2006 and had a team-record 19 consecutive losses in 2005.

Cleveland built upon a recently completed 7-2 trip by returning to Progressive Field and earning their second home win in six games.

Lowe (3-1) gave up eight hits and struck out five. Chris Perez got his seventh save, allowing a ninth-inning run.

Jack Hannahan had a two-run double in Cleveland’s three-run fifth against Jonathan Sanchez (1-1).

Sanchez hit Indians leadoff batter Jason Kipnis in the hand with his fifth pitch. Kipnis eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Carlos Santana to put Cleveland ahead 1-0.

On April 14, Sanchez hit Shin-Soo Choo with a pitch. Indians starter Jeanmar Gomez retaliated the next inning by plunking the Royals’ Mike Moustakas, leading to a brief bench-clearing scuffle. Gomez drew a five-game suspension and was suspended along with Hannahan and manager Manny Acta.

A year ago with San Francisco, Sanchez broke Choo’s left thumb with a pitch. The Royals acquired him in a trade for outfielder Melky Cabrera in November.

Sanchez walked the bases loaded in the second, but got Kipnis on a first-pitch popout, followed by a double-play grounder by Asdrubal Cabrera.

Lowe used a good sinker to record nine outs on grounders. The right-hander bounced back from a 4-1 loss at Seattle on April 18.