Merrifield, Volquez lead Royals to 2-1 win over Indians

Carlos Santana launched a solo homer on Tuesday but is 0-for-9 with three strikeouts against Wednesday starter Ian Kennedy.TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), FSN Kansas CityPITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Corey Kluber (6-6, 3.65 ERA) vs. Royals RH Ian Kennedy (4-5, 4.06)Kluber registered his second complete game of the season on Friday after permitting two runs and three hits in a 6-2 triumph over the Los Angeles Angels.

Astros 5, Cardinals 2: At St. Louis, Doug Fister pitched effectively into the eighth inning and gave Houston breathing room with a two-run single in a victory over the Cardinals. He remained out of the lineup, though manager Terry Francona said Uribe did all pregame work.

Kluber gave up more than that in five innings June 15. Finally, a home run with men on base! After losing the first eight games of the trip, the Royals responded by winning back-to-back games to take a vital three-game series against the Chicago White Sox before their matchup with Cleveland. The Royals are an abysmal 13-23 on the road, but at Kauffman Stadium they are 20-7. With runners on second and first no outs, Esky hit a single to load the bases. Volquez also hit a batter with a pitch and worked around an error, but ultimately kept the Indians from scoring.

The Indians tied the game in the top of the fifth inning. “He had a plan and he executed”.

Jonathan Schoop added a solo homer in the eighth inning for the Orioles. Wade Davis pitched around a leadoff single in the ninth for his 18th save.

After Tomlin went 7 and allowed only 1 run to the Royals, Shaw came in from the bullpen hoping to drag the game to Cody Allen for the save. Moments later, Davis sent a 1-2 pitch soaring over the wall in left field to tie the game. After Salvador Perez struck out, Cheslor Cuthbert grounded out to short to end the inning.

“This kid is not a flash in the pan”.

“I had a really good feeling about Sal coming up there and doing something special”, Yost said. “We just have to start playing better on the road”. The Royals would hold on to the lead the rest of the night. “But, I don’t think I’ll have any more babies”. “You want to come here and play like you’re capable of playing”. Eric Hosmer safely reached first base when a slightly inaccurate throw from Michael Martinez forced 1B Mike Napoli to take his foot off the bag.

Yan Gomes squandered another chance by grounding into an inning-ending double play in the sixth, and Jose Ramirez did likewise when he grounded to Merrifield in the eighth.

“We were on the attack early”, Hosmer said.

“We play hard to the last out”, Perez said. The foundation was started in 1966 by Ewing Kauffman, who founded the Royals and owned the team until his death in 1993.