Bruce Chen pitched five innings and Salvador Perez doubled in two runs as the Royals beat the Cleveland Indians 7-2 on Wednesday night. The Royals, are 2.5 games back in the wild-card standings with a day off before facing Texas, another team ahead of them in the race.
The Royals jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first with Perez’s two-out double, scoring Eric Hosmer and Billy Butler. Perez went to third on the throw home and scored on a wild pitch.
The Royals broke the game open with three runs off four Indians pitchers in the eighth. Alcides Escobar had a two-run single on a full count off Carlos Carrasco, while Jarrod Dyson walked with the bases loaded.
Royals relievers Tim Collins, Will Smith and Greg Holland preserved the lead, allowing just one hit.