Friday, August 24, 2018 08:15 PM (ET)

Royals ride back-to-back 9th-inning HRs past Indians

Field Level Media
Aug 24, 2018

Ryan O'Hearn and Hunter Dozier led off the bottom of the ninth inning with back-to-back solo home runs as the Kansas City Royals rallied to defeat the visiting Cleveland Indians 5-4 Friday night.

Indians closer Cody Allen (4-5) entered the ninth with a one-run lead but gave it up in the span of four pitches. O'Hearn hit Allen's first offering out to left field, his sixth home run of the season, and Dozier followed by taking a 1-1 pitch deep to right-center, his seventh.

Right-hander Wily Peralta (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning of relief as the Royals snapped a five-game losing streak.

Yonder Alonso hit two home runs for the Indians, including an eighth-inning shot that gave Cleveland a 4-3 lead.

But that wasn't enough, as the American League Central-leading Indians suffered their third consecutive defeat.

With one out in the top of the eighth, Jose Ramirez grounded a sharp single to center field. An out later, Alonso hit a 3-1 pitch over the right field wall, his 22nd home run of the season.

In the bottom of the first, Whit Merrifield led off with a walk, Alex Gordon singled to right field and Salvador Perez hit a 3-2 pitch over the center field wall for his 22nd home run of the season.

The Indians got their first run in the third, as Greg Allen led off with a line-drive single to center, stole second, moved to third on a flyout and scored on Michael Brantley's single to left.

Cleveland scored again in the fourth as Alonso led off with a homer to right-center field.

Neither starter factored into the decision.

Cleveland right-hander Mike Clevinger pitched six innings, allowing three runs on four hits. He walked two and struck out eight.

Kansas City right-hander Brad Keller went five innings, allowing two runs on six hits. The rookie walked one and struck out five.

The Royals, who trail the season series 7-3, beat the Indians at home for the first time in four tries this season.

The game was delayed 30 minutes in the top of the fourth inning after a water pipe burst near the Royals' bullpen, causing water to flood the warning track.

--Field Level Media

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