KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Triston McKenzie tossed six innings of three-hit ball to celebrate his 23rd
birthday, Tyler Naquin hit a pair of homers for the only runs of the game, and the Cleveland Indians
beat the Kansas City Royals 5-0 on Wednesday night.
McKenzie (2-0) needed just 81 pitches thanks to six strikeouts, no walks and some slick defense behind
him. His bullpen went the rest of the way, holding the Royals without a hit over the final three
innings.
Naquin’s first homer was a two-run shot off Jakob Junis (0-1) in the second inning. Naquin then provided
his relievers with some much-needed breathing room by adding a three-run homer off Scott Barlow in the
ninth.
The result was the fifth consecutive loss in a series-deciding game for the Royals, and their 10th
straight defeat in rubber games involving Cleveland. In fact, Kansas City has won just three of its last
35 games to decide a series.
McKenzie had a lot to do with it Wednesday night. The youngster, who missed all of last season with
injuries, retired the first 10 batters he faced. And when he ran into the slightest bit of trouble, his
defense was there to help.
The first time came when Hunter Dozier hit an infield single to deep shortstop; he was wiped out by an
inning-ending double play. The next came when the Royals put runners on second and third with one out in
the fifth, and Carlos Santana snared a sharp grounder by Adalberto Mondesi, stepped on first and then
doubled Ryan McBroom off third.
And when McKenzie whiffed on a grounder in the sixth, Francisco Lindor was there to field it and throw
the runner out.
Junis was nearly as good with the exception of a couple of base hits and the big mistake to Naquin. The
right-hander set down the Indians in order in the first and third, and he was cruising along in the
fourth when Josh Naylor’s line drive hit Junis in the right arm between the biceps and triceps — he
recovered to throw out Naylor and end the inning.
Junis was removed before the start of the fifth for precautionary reasons.
STREAK STOPPED
The single by Franmil Reyes in the first inning was his eighth consecutive hit, the longest streak by an
Indians player since Julio Franco also had eight hits in a row in June 1988. Reyes’ streak ended with a
fly out to right field in the fourth.
HARDWARE TIME
Indians RHP Shane Bieber was voted American League pitcher of the month for August after piling up 57
strikeouts with a 1.63 ERA over six starts. He had at least 10 strikeouts in five of those outings, and
the 2019 All-Star Game MVP now leads the AL in ERA (1.20), wins (six) and strikeouts (84).
TRAINER’S ROOM
Indians: C Roberto Perez started behind the plate and struck out in the second inning before departing
with what the club called shoulder fatigue. Sandy Leon finished the game in his place.
Royals: DH Jorge Soler left with tenderness in his right oblique and tightness in his back. Ryan O’Hearn
struck out batting for him in the seventh and then finished out the game.
UP NEXT
Royals LHP Danny Duffy (2-2, 4.11 ERA) makes his second straight start against the White Sox on Thursday
night when the clubs open a four-game series at Kauffman Stadium. The Indians have a day off before
starting a three-game series against Milwaukee on Friday night in Cleveland.
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