Jonathan India hit a three-run walk-off homer in the 10th inning against Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase and the Kansas City Royals beat the visiting Guardians 5-3 in the first game of a split doubleheader on Saturday.
India came to the plate against Clase (5-3) with one out and deposited a 1-2 slider into the left field seats for his first career walk-off homer.
Kansas City rallied after Cleveland moved ahead in the top of the 10th on Kyle Manzardo’s RBI single against Steven Cruz (3-1).
Maikel Garcia hit a two-run homer for the Royals, who won for the fourth time in their last five games.
Bo Naylor had two RBIs for Cleveland, which left 10 runners on base and went 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
The Royals took a 2-0 lead against Gavin Williams in the fourth inning. Bobby Witt Jr. hit a leadoff single and scored on Garcia’s one-out homer to left-center field. The 418-foot shot was Garcia’s ninth homer of the season.
Pitching on his 26th birthday, Williams allowed two runs on five hits over six innings. He walked two and struck out three.
Cleveland answered with a run against Michael Wacha in the fifth inning. Daniel Schneemann hit a leadoff double, moved to third on Brayan Rocchio’s fly out, and scored on Naylor’s sacrifice fly.
Wacha departed after giving up one run on three hits with one walk and five strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings.
The Guardians pulled even with a run in the seventh inning. Schneemann singled against John Schreiber with one out, advanced to second on Rocchio’s walk, and scored on Naylor’s double. Rocchio was thrown out attempting to score on the play.
The Royals had two runners on with no outs in the second inning, but Williams escaped unscathed when Jac Caglianone grounded into a double play and Adam Frazier grounded out.
Caglianone exited the game with left hamstring tightness following his at-bat.
–Field Level Media
