Kipnis' walk-off shot lifts Indians over Royals
Jason Kipnis homered to lead off the 10th inning, and the host Cleveland Indians recorded a 3-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Monday.
Kipnis deposited a 1-0 slider from Wily Peralta (2-4) over the wall in right-center field for his sixth homer of the season. His third career walk-off homer improved Cleveland to 2-3 in extra innings this season and dropped Kansas City to 2-6.
Rookie Bobby Bradley and Jose Ramirez each had an RBI double for the Indians, who have won four in a row and nine of their past 11 games.
Brad Hand (4-2) picked up the win after retiring the side in order in the 10th inning.
Whit Merrifield belted a solo homer and Nicky Lopez ripped an RBI double with two outs in the eighth inning for the Royals, who have lost three of their past four games.
Martin Maldonado led off the Kansas City eighth inning with a double before being replaced by pinch runner Terrance Gore, who came around to score on Lopez's double down the third base line to tie the game at 2.
With the game tied at 1, Ramirez worked a two-out walk in the sixth inning against Brian Flynn before coming around to score after Bradley drilled a double into the gap in right-center field.
Carlos Santana hit a double to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning following a 2-hour, 23-minute rain delay. Ramirez followed two batters later with a double to left field to forge a tie at 1.
Merrifield opened the scoring in the fourth inning by depositing a 1-0 slider from starter Adam Plutko over the wall in left-center field. The homer was Merrifield's 11th of the season and first since he belted a pair in the Royals' 9-0 win at Seattle on June 18.
Merrifield's homer was the lone run and hit allowed by Plutko, who struck out three in four innings before exiting after the rain delay. Brad Keller pitched three scoreless innings for the Royals but didn't return after the delay.
Cleveland's Mike Freeman drew the start in the left field after Jake Bauers sustained a sprained left ankle and limped off the field while shagging fly balls during batting practice.
--Field Level Media
