If the Royals could play eight inning games, they just might be in first place. Time and time again the Royals find a way to blow a lead going into the ninth inning. The latest blunder came in a 6-4 loss to the Indians after being up 4-3 to start the last frame.

Supposed-to-be closer Ambiorix Burgos blew his fourth save in ten tries after giving up a game-tying homer to Grady Sizemore to start the ninth. Burgos did manage to strike out Jason Michaels, but that was before he walked the next batter. Manager Buddy Bell had seen enough of Burgos and replaced him with Andrew Sisco. The way things have gone for the Royals this year, especially on the road, it probably didn’t matter who Bell brought in. Sisco just happened to be the goat of choice. Before Sisco could even realize what he was doing, Travis Hafner landed a 1-0 pitch over the wall in center field to end the game.

If not for playing against the Royals, things might have ended differently for the Indians. They were on a six-game losing streak going into Tuesday’s game. They were also 0-21 this year when trailing after eight innings. Not only that, but the Royals seemed to have the Indians number this year. Before losing Tuesday, the Royals were 5-1 against the Indians this season. Neither of those games was on the road though, where the Royals are a horrendous 2-18.

The Royals gained the lead after Matt Stairs homered off Paul Byrd to begin the sixth. It was the third of the season for Stairs.

The Royals struck first with three runs in the first inning. Doug Mientkiewicz doubled to left scoring Kerry Robinson. After Reggie Sanders struck out, Stairs grounded out to second scoring Mark Grudzielanek. The next batter, Emil Brown, reached on an infield single that scored Mientkiewicz to make it 3-0.

The Royals are 10-26.