Indians' Bullpen Is Holding Brandon Moss' 100th Home Run Ball For Ransom [PHOTO]
DAVE SKRETTA, AP Sports Writer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Indians' Michael Brantley had been swinging a cold bat. He was facing a Royals pitcher in Wade Davis who had not allowed a run all season.
There was hardly anybody else Terry Francona wanted at the plate in a tied game.
"We've seen Davis too many times and he's so good. He's one of the best in the game," the Cleveland manager said, "and Brantley, regardless of how he's swinging, you want him up there in that situation. He's had a tough week but you want him up there."
Brantley proved exactly why. He ripped a two-out single in the eighth inning, breaking the tie and helping to make a winner of starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco with a 2-1 victory.
"It's baseball. This is a tough game," Brantley said. "But I don't think about the past. I just think about today and getting the win for our team."
Carrasco (7-4) allowed five hits over seven innings to win his third straight start. The big right-hander struck out eight while dominating Kansas City for the second time in a month.
Cody Allen handled a perfect ninth for his 12th save as the Indians won for the 11th time in 14 games. AL Central rival Kansas City lost for the sixth time in its last seven.
Davis (2-1) was summoned in the eighth to keep the game tied, but he walked Michael Bourn to lead off the inning. Jose Ramirez appeared to ground into a double play moments later, but first base umpire Bob Davidson ruled the speedy Ramirez had beaten the relay throw.
Royals manager Ned Yost challenged the call, and fans were so certain Ramirez was out that they cheered when replays was shown on the big screen. But after a review of nearly 3 minutes, the call stood — Ramirez was safe at first base with just one out in the inning.
"I was shocked when they called him safe (on replay)," Yost said. "I don't know what they were looking at. On the angle showed on the big screen, he definitely looked out."
Jason Kipnis followed by grounding into a fielder's choice — second baseman Omar Infante bobbled the ball to scuttle another potential double play — and Carlos Santana worked a full-count walk, all before Brantley ripped his go-ahead single to center field.
It was the first run Davis had yielded this season, but one that first baseman Eric Hosmer thought never should have crossed the plate.
"I've only looked at the big screen," he said of the replay, "but to me I thought he was out 100 percent. It must be a different angle they had (in New York)."
Most of the game amounted to a showdown between Carrasco and Jeremy Guthrie.
Carrasco was hardly a surprise. He'd allowed three runs over 14 innings in winning his last two starts, and was facing a Royals offense that has now scored seven runs in its last six losses.
Guthrie was the more surprising half of the pitcher's duel.
The veteran had given up a career-high 11 runs, including four homers, while retiring three last Monday at Yankee Stadium. Thirteen of the 16 batters he faced reached base.
Bouncing back against the Indians, Guthrie allowed a pair of hits in 5 2-3 innings: Brandon Moss' home run on a full-count pitch in the fourth and a double by Santana in the sixth.
At that point, Yost turned the game over to his bullpen. Franklin Morales and Kelvin Herrera got the game to Davis, whose long scoreless streak finally came to an end.
"He's a great pitcher. He didn't have an ERA for a reason," Brantley said. "I knew he was going to make pitches. I was just waiting for something I could hit."
STATS AND STREAKS
The Indians are 5-0 in games started by Carrasco at Kauffman Stadium. ... The home run by Moss was the 100th of his career. ... Davis threw a season-high 38 pitches.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Indians: C Yan Gomes was back behind the plate. He caught 21 innings in a pair of games over the weekend. Gomes recently return from an injured ligament in his knee.
Royals: C Sal Perez left in the eighth for precautionary reasons after taking a foul ball off his mask. ... LHP Danny Duffy (biceps tendinitis) and RHP Kris Medlen (Tommy John surgery) will each throw two innings in a simulated game Thursday.
UP NEXT
Indians: RHP Corey Kluber tries to win his fourth straight after starting 0-5. The reigning Cy Young winner has gone seven-plus innings in four consecutive starts.
Royals: LHP Jason Vargas makes his second start since missing 16 games with a left flexor strain. He allowed two runs in four innings against the Yankees last time out.
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