SB Nation Kansas City - Battle For Fourth Place: Royals Beat Indians, 4-2https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48935/kc-fave.png2010-09-23T18:36:18-05:00http://kansascity.sbnation.com/rss/stream/14711582010-09-23T18:36:18-05:002010-09-23T18:36:18-05:00Battle For Fourth Place: Royals Open Series In Cleveland
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<p>Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Sean O'Sullivan pitched six-plus solid innings to lead the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/kansas-city-royals">Kansas City Royals</a> to a 4-2 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/cleveland-indians">Cleveland Indians</a> in the opener of a four-game series.</p>
<p>O'Sullivan (3-6) allowed two runs on four hits for the Royals, who have won two of their last three games. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/31709/mike-aviles">Mike Aviles</a> and Kila Ka'aihue both hit a solo home run while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/858/yuniesky-betancourt">Yuniesky Betancourt</a> posted two hits, an RBI and a run scored in the win.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/31352/mitch-talbot">Mitch Talbot</a> started on the hill for the Indians and suffered the loss. Talbot (9-13) was charged with three runs on five hits over five innings of work. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/31316/jayson-nix">Jayson Nix</a> doubled and scored a run for the Indians, who have lost five straight games overall.</p>
<p>The Royals scored twice in the first inning for an early lead.</p>
<p>Aviles hit a one-out solo home run, his seventh of the season. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/258/billy-butler">Billy Butler</a> followed with a walk, then <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/894/wilson-betemit">Wilson Betemit</a> singled before another walk to Ka'aihue loaded the bases. On the next at-bat, a throwing error by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/34123/luis-valbuena">Luis Valbuena</a> on a ball hit by Betancourt allowed Butler to score.</p>
<p>Another run in the top of the third gave the visitors a 3-0 advantage. Betancourt laced a one-out single, headed for third on a double by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/261/alex-gordon">Alex Gordon</a> and crossed the plate when <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/31271/lucas-may">Lucas May</a> grounded out.</p>
<p>Cleveland scored twice in the seventh inning and drew within one. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/609/shelley-duncan">Shelley Duncan</a> walked leading off and headed for third on a Nix double. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/19122/philip-humber">Philip Humber</a> entered from the Royals bullpen and walked <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/31610/matt-laporta">Matt LaPorta</a> to load the bases. When Valbuena grounded out to second base, Duncan came home.</p>
<p>The next batter was <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/31817/jordan-brown">Jordan Brown</a>, and during his at-bat, a pickoff attempt was mishandled by Butler at first base and the ball rolled behind the base line, allowing the alert Nix to race home. Brown ended up flying out before <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/33927/drew-sutton">Drew Sutton</a> fanned to end the frame.</p>
<p>Ka'aihue's homer in the eighth capped the scoring. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/140/robinson-tejeda">Robinson Tejeda</a> pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth for KC and closer <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/270/joakim-soria">Joakim Soria</a> worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his 41st save of the season.</p>
<p>KC won the season series, 8-7...Talbot fell to 1-7 over his last 12 starts...The Royals outhit the Tribe, 8-5...It was the fifth homer of the year for Ka'aihue...KC was 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position...Cleveland's Trevor Crowe stole two bases...Soria's 2010 ERA is now 1.58.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/2010/9/23/2321486/battle-for-fourth-place-royals-open-series-in-clevelandJoel Thorman