Cliff Lee kept the Indians close, setting up a Mark DeRosa’s tie-breaking grand slam, the fifth of his career, as the Tribe rallied to take the opener of their three-game set against the Royals winning 8-4.

The Royals were up 4-0 in the bottom of the sixth when the Indians scored four (three unearned to tie the game up).  While Bannister gave up some hits in that sixth, a throwing error by Billy Butler and then Miguel Olivo not being able to find home plate on a potential force out at home from another Butler throw let Bannister off the hook with just one earned run in his no-decision.

I’m beginning to see a trend with the Royals bullpen.  In the bottom of the seventh, Juan Cruz struggled for his fourth outing in a row.  He lasted just a third of an inning giving up three runs on a hit, a walk and a hit batsman. In his last three innings Cruz has given up eight earned runs.

Jamey Wright came in to face DeRosa after Cruz had loaded the bases, and gave up a grand slam.  In his last appearance, Wright gave up a two-run home run to B.J. Upton in the eighth inning of a 3-2 loss to Tampa Bay.