Rain stops Indians, Royals

Cleveland was leading 4-2 in the 10th inning

Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo.

Not long after the Cleveland Indians took a 4-2 lead in the 10th inning Sunday night, rain came.

A lot of rain, to be exact. The Indians-Royals game at Kauffman Stadium was delayed and then suspended by a storm with the Indians three outs away from sweeping the first-place Royals.

ESPN, which was televising the game, reported that the game will be finished on Sept. 22 at Progressive Field in Cleveland.

Before the game, the Indians called up right-hander Zach McAllister from the minors to give their heavily worked bullpen a break.

Cleveland used seven relief pitchers in Saturday’s 11-inning 3-2 win over the Royals. The Indians used six relievers Friday night.

McAllister was promoted from Triple-A Columbus for his fifth stint with Cleveland this year. He is 3-6 with a 5.91 ERA in 14 starts. He also spent a month on the disabled list with a back injury.

McAllister has never pitched in relief in the majors, making 64 starts.

The Indians put right-hander Josh Tomlin on the paternity list. He picked up the win Saturday in relief.

Michael Brantley and Carlos Santana each had an RBI single in the 11th inning of Saturday’s win.

Kansas City has lost three in a row to fall into a first-place tie with Detroit.

Cleveland, which has won six of seven, is just 3 1/2 back of the Royals and three behind the Tigers, who lost to the White Sox, 6-2, on Sunday.

“It’s extremely agonizing,” Royals manager Ned Yost said after Saturday’s loss. “It’s frustrating.”

The Royals got a run back in the bottom of the 11th when Salvador Perez’s two-out double scored Jarrod Dyson. But Erik Kratz struck out to end the game.

Jose Ramirez sparked Cleveland’s winning rally with a leadoff triple. Brantley followed with a base hit against Scott Downs (0-4).

“It was a hustle triple,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “I about swallowed my tobacco when he went around second. Instead of Brantley trying to get the runner over they have to bring the infield in and he hit a chopper over the infield.”

Brantley then stole second and went to third on Perez’s throwing error before Santana singled into center field.

The Royals loaded the bases with one out in the 10th, but failed to score off Tomlin (6-8). The reliever got Alcides Escobar to hit a grounder to third, forcing Perez at the plate. He then struck Jayson Nix, who was making his Royals debut.

The Royals went 2 for 18 with runners in scoring position and stranded 16 runners, twice leaving the bases loaded.

“We weren’t getting any hits with runners in scoring position, it was plain and simple,” Yost said. “One was an infield hit and didn’t score a run.” Cleveland grabbed a 1-0 lead when Yan Gomes doubled in Jason Kipnis in the fourth.