Tomlin pitches complete game

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Indians manager Terry Francona admitted his team was frustrated after losing the first two games of their series against the Kansas City Royals.

Perhaps the defending AL champions play better that way.

Jason Kipnis went 4 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs, Josh Tomlin pitched his first complete game in two years and the Indians rolled to a 10-1 win on Sunday.

“We needed a day like that,” Francona said. “It’s one day but I was happy for our hitters. They were able to relax a little bit.”

Kipnis, who reached in each of his five plate appearances, hit an RBI single in the third and a solo homer in the seventh.

The Indians took out some of their frustration with 18 hits, one short of their season high.

“We know we can be playing better,” Kipnis said. “Games like this only reassure us this is the kind of product we can roll out there when everyone’s going well. This is how good we can be.”

Austin Jackson drove in three runs for Cleveland, and Carlos Santana had three hits and two RBIs. Michael Brantley and Jose Ramirez also had three hits apiece.