Royals’ Bullpen by Committee Shuts Down Tribe in Pitchers’ Duel

Zack Greinke pitched 3 scoreless innings in a starting role and the bullpen allowed only 1 run the rest of the way as the Kansas City Royals edged the Cleveland Indians 2-1 Friday night at Kauffman Stadium.

The Royals allowed the Tribe only 6 hits on the night. John Bale (1-1) relieved Greinke in the 4 ^th inning, pitching 3 scoreless innings on 2 hits, while striking out 5, to earn the win. Jimmy Gobble, Joel Peralta, and David Riske each followed on the mound until Joakim Soria came in to nail down the win and his 14 ^th save with a scoreless 9 ^th inning. Indians’ starter C.C. Sabathia (14-7) went the distance for Cleveland, allowing the 2 runs, both of them earned, on 5 hits, to take the loss.

The Royals (57-70) and Indians (70-57) tangle again Saturday night at the K. Kyle Davies (5-10) goes to the mound for K.C. against Cleveland’s Aaron Laffey (1-1).