LDN - Sports

Merrifield powers Royals past Indians

[June 14, 2016] KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Whit Merrifield wrestled the starting second base job away from veteran Omar Infante and the leadoff spot away from Alcides Escobar.

Performances like the one the 27-year-old rookie turned in Monday explain why.

Merrifield hit his first career homer and his first career triple, and he scored both runs as the Kansas City Royals defeated the American League Central-leading Cleveland Indians 2-1.

Edinson Volquez allowed two hits over seven scoreless innings for the win.

Merrifield is batting .330 through his first 22 games in the majors.

"This kid is not a flash in the pan," Kansas City manager Ned Yost said of Merrifield. "His swing works up here."

The Royals (33-30) had lost six of seven to the Indians, all in Cleveland, before opening this seven-game homestand with a victory. The victory moved the Royals within two games of the Indians. Kansas City and Detroit Tigers are tied for second in the American League Central.

The Indians (35-28) lost for only the fourth time in 13 June games, and they had their seven-game winning streak against division opponents snapped.

While Volquez permitted just two hits, he walked four, including three in the first inning, and hit a batter. He threw 59 strikes in 95 pitches. Volquez (6-6) had allowed nine runs on 11 hits and six walks over 11 innings in losing his previous two starts.

"That's what you want to do, go seven or eight innings," said Volquez, who looked unlikely to last that long after a 28-pitch first inning.

Kelvin Herrera, who replaced Volquez in the eighth, gave up a leadoff homer. Jason Kipnis' eighth home run came on a 1-2 Herrera offering, as the second baseman deposited the ball over the right-center wall.

Herrera then walked Francisco Lindor, but he rebounded by striking out Mike Napoli and including Jose Ramirez to ground into a double play.

Wade Davis gave up a leadoff single to Lonnie Chisenhall in the ninth inning before picking up his 18th save in 19 chances. It was Davis' second save in as many days after he went 10 days without a save opportunities.

Salvador Perez had three of the Royals' 11 hits, raising his average to .290.

Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco (2-2) was removed after six innings and 103 pitches. While he gave up 10 hits, including Merrifield's home run, he held the Royals to two runs. He struck out eight, matching his season high. Carrasco is 0-2 in three starts since coming off the disabled list on June 2.

"He bobbed and weaved," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "He had a lot of traffic early, and for the most part, he got out of it. As he got into the third and fourth innings, he started pitching more effectively. He hung a breaking ball for the home run, but he was much better. Giving up two runs in six innings, most nights we'll take that."

Volquez had difficulty finding the strike zone in the first inning.

Nine of his first 10 pitches were called balls, as he walked Carlos Santana and Kipnis to open the game. He retired Lindor and Napoli on fly balls before walking Ramirez to load the bases. Volquez got out of the mess when Chisenhall rolled out to Merrifield.

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Royals second basemen Whit Merrifeld (15) hits a leadoff triple against the Cleveland Indians during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

"I should have bunted, get the guy over and continue the rally," Lindor said. "But it didn't happen, and I didn't get a hit. I didn't do my job, and we didn't score."

Merrifield led off the bottom of the first with a triple to right, which got over the head of Chisenhall, who misplayed it. Alcides Escobar singled home Merrifield, but he was out attempting to steal second base, which loomed big before the inning ended.

Carrasco walked Eric Hosmer and yielded a two-out single to Perez before Kendrys Morales grounded out to end the inning. The Royals converted a triple, two singles and a walk into just one run.

Volquez's control again betrayed him in the fourth when he walked Chisenhall and hit Yan Gomes with a pitch, but once more got out of the trouble. He limited the Indians to one hit -- a Kipnis double to the right-center warning track off Reymond Fuentes' glove -- in the first five innings.

"His stuff is really good," Francona said of Volquez. "Every once in a while, he'll lose the plate like he did that first inning. We just weren't able to cash in. Some of it is his stuff."

Merrifield made it 2-0 in the fourth with his homer. Merrifield drove an 0-2 Carrasco pitch into the Royals' left field bullpen, an estimated 402 feet.

NOTES: Indians 3B Juan Uribe didn't play Monday after being carted off the field in the fourth inning of Sunday's game. Uribe sustained a testicular bruise from a grounder by Los Angeles Angels slugger Mike Trout, which was clocked at 106 mph. Uribe said he does not wear a cup and does not plan on doing so despite the painful injury. ... The Royals signed RHP A.J. Puckett to a $1.2 million contract. Puckett, who is their first pick in the 2016 draft but a second-round choice, had emergency brain surgery in high school. He recorded a 45 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings streak as a junior at Pepperdine. ... Indians SS Francisco Lindor has 10 games with three-or-more hits this season, tied for second most in the majors. ... Royals RHP Wade Davis picked up his 17th save Sunday, his first since June 1. ... Indians RHP Josh Tomlin and Royals RHP Chris Young are the Tuesday probables.

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