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Smith cleans up for KC
Photo
Kansas City Royals second baseman Johnny Giavotella is upended after forcing out the Cleveland Indians’ Luke Carlin then throwing to first to complete a double play during the fourth inning of Tuesday’s baseball game in Cleveland. The Royals downed the Indians, 8-2.
Indians ace Justin Masterson allowed seven earned runs in six innings for the slumping Tribe
Associated Press
Cleveland
Will Smith celebrated his first major league win by taking four showers.
Two by teammates dousing him with beer and two more to rinse off the suds.
“I’m very clean,” he said, “and very happy.”
Smith survived a shaky start and pitched six innings for his first win and Mike Moustakas had a career-best four RBIs, leading the Kansas City Royals to an 8-2 win over Cleveland on Tuesday night, bouncing the Indians out of first place in the AL Central for the first time in 28 days.
Moustakas hit a two-run homer off Justin Masterson (2-4) in the first inning and singled in two runs in the second as the Royals built a 7-2 lead for Smith (1-1).
Masterson, who beat Detroit ace Justin Verlander in his previous start, allowed seven earned runs in six innings.
The Indians have dropped four of five since sweeping the Tigers last week. Following the game, Indians manager Manny Acta opened his remarks by commenting on his team’s flat performance.
“I must confess, that had to be the most boring game I have ever been part of,” he said. “That second inning just sucked all the energy out of us.”
Smith took the mound with a 2-0 lead but quickly found trouble, walking the first two hitters he faced before giving up a single to load the bases. Smith limited the damage to two runs and gained strength as he went along. After he allowed two singles in the third, the only Cleveland player to reach — on a throwing error by third baseman Moustakas — was erased on a double play.
Smith walked two and struck out five.
“I just got mad and went after them,” he said. “It sure helps when your offense puts up some runs. I can’t thank them enough.”
Masterson trailed 7-2 after two innings but, like Smith, the right-hander found his groove and finished with no walks and eight strikeouts, his most since fanning 10 on Opening Day.
“It’s always one inning,” Masterson said.
Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera went 1 for 4 as the DH after missing three consecutive games with a tight hamstring.
By the end of the second inning, Moustakas already had his four RBIs and was looking for more. After connecting for his eighth homer in the first, his two-run single capped a five-run outburst in the second.