Gil Meche throws 7 scoreless innings; Royals beat Indians 2-0 on unearned run, solo homer
Associated Press | May 4, 08 3:00 PM CDT in
Sports
Gil Meche pitched seven shutout innings, a throwing error by third baseman Casey Blake broke a scoreless tie and the Kansas City Royals beat the Cleveland Indians 2-0 on Sunday.
Miguel Olivo added a solo homer in the ninth for the Royals, who outscored the Indians 6-2 in sweeping the two-game series. Friday night's game was rained out.
Blake's error made a loser of Aaron Laffey (0-2), who didn't allow a hit until Olivo singled with two outs in the fifth. After John Buck walked, Tony Pena Jr. hit what should have been an inning-ending grounder to Blake, who ranged to his left to field the ball. However, his throw to second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera was high and wide of the bag, sailing into right field and allowing Olivo to score.
Two runs were enough against the punchless Indians offense, which has scored three runs or less 16 times in 31 games. Cleveland, which was held to four hits, didn't advance a runner to third base and got only one runner to second.
Cleveland has lost five of seven to fall three games under .500.
Meche (2-4), who allowed eight earned runs and nine hits in 3 1-3 innings in a 15-1 loss to the Indians on April 22, was dominating this time. The right-hander gave up four hits, struck out four and didn't walk a batter.
Going into the game, Meche was 2-7 with a 6.10 ERA in 13 starts against Cleveland.
Leo Nunez pitched a perfect eighth. Joakim Soria worked the ninth for his eighth save in chances. The right-hander hasn't allowed a run in 13 innings this season.
Laffey, called up from Triple-A Buffalo on April 28, didn't allow a hit through five innings in his first start against the Yankees.
Notes:@ C Victor Martinez, the American League's leading hitter, extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a fourth-inning single. ... The Indians were blanked 1-0 by the Yankees last Sunday. ... LHP John Bale, already on the disabled list with a tight shoulder, broke his pitching hand punching a door at the team's hotel Friday night. He returned to Kansas City Sunday morning and will be examined by team doctors, possibly as early as Monday. The Royals had hoped Bale would come off the DL this week. ... The Royals open a 10-game homestand, their longest of the season, Monday night against Los Angeles.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.