A four run eighth inning rally doomed the Kansas City Royals as the Cleveland Indians notched a 5-2 victory in the rubber match of a three-game series at Progressive Field.
The Royals led 2-1 heading to the bottom of the eighth and starter Gil Meche had retired 16 straight batters. Cleveland’s Ryan Garko led off the fateful
inning with a double. Then the doors came off for the Royals.
Ben Francisco looking to sacrifice, bunted down the third base line and Meche threw wildly past first. Tony Graffanino, running for Garko, tried to score but second baseman Alberto Callaspo was alertly backing up the play and threw home in plenty of time for the out. Travis Hafner then followed with a single to put runners on the corners and Francisco scored easily from third on Asdrubal Cabrera’s slow bouncer to second that was booted by Callaspo for an error.
Ron Mahay relieved Meche and Grady Sizemore greeted the new hurler with his sixth home run on the year and a 5-2 lead.
Meche despite a exceptional first seven innings, took the loss. He was
charged with four runs, three earned, on five hits with seven strikeouts
and no walks.
Callaspo and Billy Butler drove in runs for Kansas City, which has lost three
of its last four. The Royals completed a six-game road trip with a 3-3 mark.
