Alan Eskew, The Sports Xchange
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Salvador Perez hit a three-run homer and Ian Kennedy pitched effectively into the seventh inning as the Kansas City Royals topped the Cleveland Indians 9-4 on Wednesday night to sweep the three-game series.
The Royals have won five straight games to move into a first-place tie with the Indians in the American League Central after enduring an eight-game losing streak.
Perez’s three-run homer capped off a four-run fifth.
Kennedy (5-5), who lost to the Indians 7-1 on June 4, allowed four runs on five hits, including a pair of two-run homers, in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out six and walked two before Luke Hochevar relieved him after 113 pitches.
Michael Martinez homered in the seventh after Kennedy walked Tyler Naquin.
Corey Kluber (6-7) was charged with eight runs, matching his career high, in five-plus innings, allowing nine hits, walking one and striking out six.
The Indians used four pitchers in the sixth when the Royals batted around and scored three runs. Kluber gave up singles to Christian Colon and Drew Butera to start the inning and was replaced by Dan Otero, who faced two batters and yielded singles to Whit Merrifield and Alcides Escobar on three pitches. Jeff Manship walked Cheslor Cuthbert with the bases loaded to force home Merrifield for the final run of the inning.
The Royals jumped on Kluber for two runs in the first. Eric Hosmer lined a double to right, scoring Whit Merrifield. Merrifield has scored a run in nine consecutive home games, the longest streak by a Royal since Johnny Damon scored in 12 straight games, July 30-Aug. 27, 2000.
Lorenzo Cain, who was batting in the cleanup slot for the sixth straight game, then drilled a double to left to bring Eric Hosmer home.
Kluber pitched out of trouble created by his infield in the second. Jason Kipnis committed a throwing error that allowed Reymond Fuentes to reach first to begin the inning. Next a fielding error on third baseman Michael Martinez permitted Christian Colon to reach first.
After Drew Butera’s sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third, Kluber retired Merrifield on a fly ball to second baseman Kipnis and struck out Escobar.
The Indians tied it in the fifth when Michael Martinez beat Hosmer to the bag for an infield single with two outs. Rajai Davis deposited a 1-2 Kennedy pitch over the left-field fence for his seventh home run to make it 2-2.
After Davis’ home run, rookie right fielder Reymond Fuentes dropped Kipnis fly ball to the warning track for a two-base error, but Francisco Lindor flied out to left to end the inning.
The Royals scored four runs with two outs in the fifth to grab a 6-2 lead. The big blow was Salvador Perez’s two-run homer. Perez hit the game-winning two-run homer Tuesday with two out in the eighth. Drew Butera, who led off the inning with a bloop double to center, scored the first run of the inning on a Kluber wild pitch.
NOTES: The Royals designated 2B Omar Infante for assignment, opting to eat almost $14 million of his contract. Infante had not started a game since June 2 and was hitting .239 with 10 extra-base hits in 39 games. Whit Merrifield and Christian Colon will get the bulk of the playing time at second base. The Royals signed Infante to a four-year $30.25 million contract before the 2014 season. “It’s a mistake you don’t like to make. You don’t like to spend unnecessarily,” Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. “I’m the one accountable, ultimately, for the people that we sign. It’s unfortunate we released him with a year and a half left on his contract. You don’t want things to end that way.” … LF Alex Gordon, who is on the disabled list with a broken wrist, took batting practice on the field for the first time since his injury. Gordon hit some in the fountains and said he is “pain free.” He could be going out soon on a minor league rehab assignment. … The Royals recalled LHP Brian Flynn, who was 2-1 with a 3.04 ERA in nine outings, including four starts, with Triple-A Omaha. Flynn will be used out of the bullpen. … 3B Juan Uribe was not in the lineup for the third straight game after suffering a testicular contusion Sunday.