CLEVELAND — Corey Kluber got some rare offensive support on a day in which he came within two outs of his first career shutout as the Cleveland Indians hit three home runs in a six-run sixth inning in beating the Kansas City Royals 12-1 Wednesday afternoon at Progressive Field.
The Indians scored a total of 16 runs and were shut out four times in Kluber’s 11 losses, but offense was not a problem on Wednesday as the Indians banged out a season-high 18 hits, including four home runs in snapping their six-game losing streak and Kansas City’s four-game winning streak.
The Indians, who went 1-6 on their homestand, halted an eight-game home losing streak, their longest home losing streak since 1975.
The right-handed Kluber (6-11) pitched a five-hit complete game, with six strikeouts and one walk.
Right-hander Jeremy Guthrie (7-7) started for the Royals and gave up eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Leading 2-0, the Indians blew the game open with a six-run sixth inning, which began with Guthrie striking out catcher Yan Gomes. Rookie third baseman Giovanny Urshela hit his third home run, over the left field wall to make it 3-0.
Guthrie then gave up three consecutive singles — to center fielder Michael Bourn, left fielder Tyler Holt and second baseman Jason Kipnis. The hit by Kipnis drove in Bourn with Cleveland’s fourth run.
Rookie shortstop Francisco Lindor followed Kipnis’ single with a towering fly ball hit into the seats down the right field line for his fifth home run, a three-run blast that gave the Indians a 7-0 lead. Left fielder Michael Brantley made it back-to-back homers when he hit his eighth home run, over the right field wall to extend the lead to 8-0.
The Indians took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Kipnis singled, went to second on a single by Lindor and scored when Gomes got hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. That 1-0 lead marked the first time the Indians had a lead in the seven-game homestand.
A sacrifice fly by Lindor in the second inning gave the Indians a 2-0 lead. Kluber, who was 0-3 with a 5.85 ERA in three prior starts against Kansas City this season, completely shut down the Royals’ lineup.
Kluber retired the first 12 batters he faced, with only one ball leaving the infield. First baseman Eric Hosmer broke that streak with a double into the left field corner, leading off the fifth inning.
Second baseman Omar Infante reached on a bunt single to put runners at first and third with one out. But Kluber struck out left fielder Paulo Orlando and retired catcher Drew Butera to end that inning.
The Indians added four more runs in the ninth off right-hander Luke Hochevar, two of those coming on a home run by Gomes.
Kansas City’s only run came on an RBI groundout by right fielder Alex Rios, with one out in the ninth.
NOTES: The Indians recalled OF Tyler Holt from Triple-A Columbus. Holt fills the roster spot created by the trade of OF David Murphy to the Angels on Tuesday. … SS Eric Stamets, acquired by the Indians from the Angels in the Murphy trade, has been assigned to Double-A Akron. … Royals hitters have been hit by pitches 53 times — the most in the American League. It matches the Royals’ total for the entire 2014 season. The Royals are on a pace to get hit by pitches 87 times, which would threaten the club record of 89 set in 2007.
