After a dismal seven game road trip, the Royals clicked their heels and returned to Kansas City. Monday, there was no place like home as the Royals beat the Indians 4-3.
Starting pitcher Danny Bautista returned from the disabled list, but only pitched three innings. Even on limited pitches he gave up two runs and walked three in his short outing.
Mike Wood came on in his relief with the bases loaded and no outs in the fourth. Fortunately for the Royals, he was able to pitch his way out of the inning allowing just one run to score. That run was credited to Bautista. Wood (3-0) earned the win allowing no runs on three hits in 4 1/3 innings.
Catcher John Buck led off the fifth inning with his first homer of the season to regain the lead for the Royals 3-2. The scoring wasn’t done there. Two singles by Esteban German and Mark Grudzielanek gave the Royals men on first and second. Two batters later, Emil Brown’s sacrifice fly to center field scored German making it 4-2.
The Indians squandered a chance to score in the seventh. Right fielder Casey Blake led off the inning with a double to left. He later advanced to third on a Grady Sizemore ground out. But with only one out, the Tribe was unable to drive Blake in.
Ambiorix Burgos pitched the games final four outs for the Royals, but not without a little scare in the ninth. Burgos gave up a solo blast to Sizemore with one out and followed that by allowing two more runners aboard. With the tying and go ahead runners on base, Burgos got Victor Martinez to pop up and end the game. It was the fifth save for Burgos.
The Royals are 8-22.