Cleveland grabbed a 4-0 lead off Danny Duffy and manager Ned Yost had seen enough, pulling Duffy after facing five batters without getting an out in the second inning. Things got worse from there as the Royals bullpen was tagged for six more runs down the stretch in a 10-3 loss. Detroit lost again to the White Sox, so the Royals keep their half-game lead in the Central.
Nick Swisher led off with a single, former Royal Mike Aviles was hit by a pitch, Lonnie Chisenhall doubled to drive in a run, and Brett Hayes and Jason Kipnis added back-to-back RBI singles to give the Indians a 4-0 lead. Duffy ended up hitting one other batter.
Ned Yost said Duffy could never get comfortable and Duffy hasn’t felt that way in a long time.
Good news for the Royals. Closer Greg Holland was activated from the DL and obviously got another day off after this blowout loss. The Royals try to win the series this afternoon.
Indians: AL Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber (0-4, 4.62 ERA) starts in the series finale. He lost to the Royals on April 27.
Royals: RHP Edinson Volquez (2-3) has the seventh-best in the American League at 2.10.