Cleveland Indians Walk-Off Again, Stun Royals in 9th for Win

A night after their first walk-off win of the season, the Cleveland Indians do it again in a 5-4 walk-off victory in the bottom of the 9th to beat the division-leading Kansas City Royals. Down 4-3 heading into the 9th, the Indians got two runs off stand-in closer Joakim Soria (2-2) for the win, moving them to 28-24. The loss is the first for the Royals in seven contests and drops them to 30-23 on the year, though they remain 1.5 games ahead in the division.

The night started off well for the Tribe who welcomed back Carlos Carrasco, who was making his first start since April 24th. The Indians activated Carrasco from the 15-day disabled list and optioned rookie starter Mike Clevinger (0-1, 8.79 ERA) to Triple-A Columbus. Carrasco had a so-so start in his return. On an 80-pitch limit, he worked five innings allowing three runs on nine hits, a walk, and striking out two. After the Indians staked him to a 1-0 lead after two innings, Carrasco allowed a two-run home run to Royals catcher Drew Butera. It was his first of the home run of the year as he fills in for the injured Salvador Perez.

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He allowed his third run in the 4th on three straight two-out singles, capped by an RBI single by Jarrod Dyson scoring Reymond Fuentes. Carrasco was done after a scoreless 5th inning and 78 pitches on the night. Austin Adams worked the 6th for the Indians, giving the Royals their fourth run of the night on a solo home run by Cheslor Cuthbert, his second of the year. Adams did strike out a pair before giving way to Zach McAllister who worked a scoreless 7th inning and started the 8th before being lifted after 1 1/3 innings. Tommy Hunter came on and on his first pitch got the speedy Dyson to ground into an inning-ending double play and keeping the deficit at two. Hunter worked a scoreless 9th and picked up his second win of the season (2-1).

The Indians took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 2nd inning on an RBI single by Lonnie Chisenhall, scoring Mike Napoli. However, with runners on second and third and no outs, the Indians failed to get another run across that inning. The Indians were able to tie the game at two in the bottom of the third on an RBI single by Jose Ramirez, scoring Francisco Lindor. That was all the Indians were able to get off Royals starter Yordano Ventura who worked six innings allowing the two runs (one earned) on seven hits, two walks, and striking out three.

The Indians scored a key third run in the bottom of the 8th to cut the Royals’ lead to just one. After Yan Gomes grounding into what looked like an inning-ending double play, an errant throw by Omar Infante kept the inning alive, allowing rookie Tyler Naquin, making his first start since returning to the club, to get the RBI single.

The Indians got another break in the 9th inning, as normal closer Wade Davis was unavailable due to a high workload. Instead, Joakim Soria came on to close it out for the Royals. After a trying night at the plate, Carlos Santana led off the inning with a single up the middle and alertly went to second after the outfielder fell down getting the ball. That heads up hustle allowed Jason Kipnis to sacrifice pinch runner Michael Martinez to third base with just one out. Francisco Lindor then tied the game with an RBI triple past the diving Paulo Orlando, who came on as a defensive replacement. Mike Napoli followed that up with a game-winning, walk-off sacrifice fly on an 0-2 pitch.

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After not having a walk-off win in April or May, the Indians now have two in the first two days of June. The Tribe will look to keep the emotional high going as the Indians and Royals go back at it tomorrow night at 7:10 pm. Danny Salazar (5-3, 2.39 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Indians while Edinson Volquez (5-4, 3.74) will go for the Royals. A win for the Indians would move them within a half game of the Royals and tie them in the loss column.

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