JHONNY PERALTA of the Indians hits a fifth-inning RBI single on Friday night at Kansas City. AP / Associated Press
Star Beacon
An inning to remember
Fab fifth leads Indians past Royals; Reyes leaves early with elbow stiffness
ASSOCIATED PRESS Associated Press
Though he didn’t face any long throws in his nine innings, Martinez called a good game with a disjointed rotation after Reyes’ injury. He was sharp with the bat, too, going 2-for-3 with two walks, scoring two runs and knocking in another.
“He looked good, he felt good, he had a lot of energy, was obviously excited to be back there again,” Wedge said. “He did a good job on a tough day. When you’ve got to get your starter out after three innings and work through some bullpen guys, I thought he handled everything very well today.
Kansas City was coming off a three-game sweep over Oakland, getting 27 combined hits to win both games of a doubleheader on Thursday.
The Royals had far more trouble with the streaking Indians.
Duckworth struggled with control through his five innings, repeatedly missing high as he walked four batters. The right-hander gave up six runs in 11 innings to win his first two starts after being called up on Aug. 24 and nearly matched that total in five innings against the Indians.
“They’re a good team and they battled me,” said Duckworth, who allowed five runs and five hits. “The ball just didn’t bounce the right way tonight.”
Kansas City’s offense wasn’t much better.
Despite Reyes’ early exit, the Royals couldn’t string the hits together, stranding two runners in the fourth and fifth. The stagnant offense finally showed a spark in the seventh, scoring three runs off Tom Mastny on David DeJesus’ sacrifice fly and a two-run double by Jose Guillen.
It was a little too late after falling behind 8-0.
“It’s not good playing three games in the last two days,” Hillman said.
NOTES — Royals 3B Alex Gordon, on the 15-day DL since Aug. 23 with a torn hip flexor tendon, took ground balls before the game. He didn’t throw or take batting practice. ... Choo extended his hitting streak to nine games and his reached safely in 25 straight.
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