Ryan Merritt (photo/Cleveland Indians)
Cleveland rookie pitcher Ryan Merritt got through a shaky first inning and then retired the final 13 batters he faced over five innings, as the Royals lost to the Indians, 7-2. Merritt (1-0) gave up a run and three hits in the first inning, but limited the damage and silenced Kansas City the rest of the night at Kauffman Stadium.
Merritt got Paulo Orlando to ground into an inning double play after allowing the run. He called it the biggest pitch of the night. Eric Hosmer singled in a run in the first, upping his RBI total to a career-high 104.
Francisco Lindor snapped an 0-for-29 drought with a double in a four-run third, homered off the left-field foul pole with pinch runner Michael Martinez and Carlos Santana aboard in the seventh.
Yordano Ventura (11-12) gave up four runs and six hits with three walks while striking out eight in six innings.
