Grounding into six double plays proved too much to overcome as the Kansas City Royals dropped the first of a three game series 8-7 to the Cleveland Indians Tuesday night at Progressive Field.
The Royals had fallen behind 6-1 but battled back to within one after plating four in the top of the eigth inning. In the bottom half though, Victor Martinez’ two-run homer turned out to be the difference.
KC was able to get back within one in the ninth on a two-run dinger by David DeJesus. DeJesus also sparked the four-run eighth for Kansas City with an RBI single. Mark Teahen plated a pair for the Royals, who have dropped back-to-back games on the heels of winning five-of-six. Sidney Ponson allowed six runs in just three-and-a-third innings of duty to suffer the loss.
Just recalled Brian Bannister will get the start for the Royals in game two of the series tonight.