 with three home runs and eight RBIs over the last eight games. He was called up from Triple-A Columbus on May 14 and became the 12th Indians rookie since 1913 to have at least five hits in a game.Shane Bieber (9-3), making his second start since being named MVP of the All-Star Game held at Progressive Field, allowed five runs in 5 2/3 innings.Bieber took a 6-2 lead into the sixth, but three straight singles with two outs loaded the bases. Whit Merrifield's three-run triple off Nick Goody cut the lead to one.Cleveland scored four times in the third to erase a 2-1 deficit. Tyler Naquin hit a two-run homer, a towering drive down the right field line that hit close to the top of the foul pole.Jose Ramirez drove in two runs and extended his hitting streak to 11 games with an RBI single in the eighth.Mike Montgomery (1-3) got the loss in his debut for Kansas City after being acquired from the Chicago Cubs for catcher Martin Maldonado on July 15. The left-hander allowed five runs in two innings and was pulled after the first four hitters in the third reached base.Montgomery went 1-2 in 20 relief appearances for the Cubs, but the Royals will use him as a starter.Bieber's bases-loaded balk in the first inning scored a run for Kansas City. Jordan Luplow tied the game in the first with an RBI grounder.Kansas City went ahead in the third on Hunter Dozier's RBI double. Alex Gordon tagged up from third on Humberto Arteaga's fly ball to right and was called safe after avoiding the tag of catcher Roberto Perez.Perez lunged at Gordon, who jumped around the catcher and touched the plate with his hand as he was being tagged. The Indians challenged and the call was overturned.TRAINER'S ROOMRoyals: SS Adalberto Mondesi has begun rehabilitating his partially dislocated left shoulder. He was injured diving for a foul ball against the White Sox on Tuesday and placed on the 10-day injured list.Indians: RHP Corey Kluber (broken arm) played catch and did long toss for about 20 minutes. He's scheduled to throw off the mound Sunday for the second time since being struck by a line drive May 1.UP NEXTRoyals: RHP Jakob Junis (5-8, 5.08 ERA) struck out a career-high 10 over seven innings Monday in a 5-2 win over the White Sox.Indians: RHP Adam Plutko (3-1, 5.40 ERA) is seeking his first victory over the Royals. He is 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA in four career appearances against KC.---More MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/-Sports)
Royals, Indians ride win streaks into seriesFLMThe Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals continued their strong post-All-Star break surges with respective four-game sweeps over fellow American League Central adversaries.The Indians and Royals aim to continue their runs of good fortune at the other's expense on Friday when they open a three-game series in Cleveland.Cleveland brought out the brooms on Thursday and recorded its fifth straight win and 11th in 13 contests with a 6-3 victory over Detroit. The win moved the Indians a season-best 15 games over .500.Jose Ramirez belted a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth inning and drove in three runs. The 26-year-old enters the series opener against Kansas City with a 10-game hitting streak, during which he is 15-for-41 with four homers, 12 RBIs and 10 runs scored."Even if Jose is being the hottest one right now with home runs, we're still putting up a good amount of runs," second baseman Jason Kipnis said. "It's not all him. It's coming from (Nos.) one through nine in the order. Guys are having good at-bats."It may not be pretty. It may not be what you want all the time. But we're doing whatever we can to get on base and get guys in." Cleveland avenged a sweep at the hands of Kansas City in April by winning two of three from the Royals in late June and posting a sweep on July 2-4.Like the Indians, Kansas City completed a four-game sweep on Thursday with a 6-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox. The win was the Royals' sixth in seven games since the All-Star break."We're playing really good ball right now," Kansas City right-hander Brad Keller said. "The offense is alive and killing it right now. The starters and relievers are doing their job. The break helped us, I think." The Royals are hitting .330 as a team and scored 49 runs in seven games since the All-Star break."The vibes in the clubhouse got a lot better," Kansas City reliever Tim Hill said. "It's definitely a different energy, and it's good." Whit Merrifield, who saw his 15-game hitting streak halted on Thursday, will look to get back on track against Cleveland right-hander Shane Bieber (8-3, 3.49 ERA).Bieber returned from capturing Most Valuable Player honors in the All-Star Game with a no-decision versus Minnesota on Sunday.The 24-year-old also received a no-decision against Kansas City on June 25 despite permitting two earned runs in 5 1/3 innings.Bieber owns a 2-0 mark with a 5.40 ERA in three career starts versus the Royals, although Lucas Duda (3-for-7, two homers) and Merrifield (3-for-9, home run) have gotten their licks in on the hurler.Left-hander Mike Montgomery (1-2, 5.67 ERA) will make his debut with Kansas City after being acquired from the Chicago Cubs on Monday.Montgomery last pitched on July 2, allowing one run on two hits in 3 1/3 innings in a no-decision against Pittsburgh.Francisco Lindor is 2-for-5 with a double in his career against the 30-year-old Montgomery, who has yet to record a decision with a 6.75 ERA in five career appearances against Cleveland.--Field Level Media
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