The Indians score five runs in the eighth inning to defeat the Royals, 5-3.
Michael Brantley watches his two-run double off Kansas City reliever Robinson Tejeda in the eighth inning Sunday at Progressive Field. The hit capped a five-run rally for the Indians.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Michael Brantley's left hamstring is not 100 percent, but both his hands are just fine.
Pinch-hitter Brantley turned on an inside fastball and ripped it down the first-base line for a two-run double as the Indians defeated the Royals, 5-3, Sunday afternoon at Progressive Field.
Brantley, pinch-hitting for Lou Marson, capped a five-run eighth inning off reliever Robinson Tejeda. The Tribe entered the eighth trailing, 3-0.
Brantley did not start for the fourth consecutive game because of the hamstring.
The Indians (65-91) won the final three of a four-game series. They have a 1 1/2-game lead on Kansas City (63-92) in the race for fourth place in the AL Central.
The Tribe won the season series, 10-8.
Substitute closer Vinnie Pestano earned his first major-league save in his second appearance. He pitched a scoreless ninth. Regular closer Chris Perez was unavailable because he is with his wife and newborn son in Tampa, Fla.
Royals lefty Bruce Chen was denied a fourth victory in four decisions against the Indians this season. Chen remained 11-7 overall after giving up four hits in 6 2/3 innings. He exited with a 3-0 lead.
Fausto Carmona gave up two runs on six hits in five innings. Justin Germano relieved to begin the sixth.
Left fielder Shelley Duncan bailed out Carmona with a terrific catch in the second inning.
Kansas City took a 1-0 lead in the first when Josh Fields singled to drive in Billy Butler.
The Indians squandered scoring opportunities in the first and second. Trevor Crowe led off the first with a double. He did not advance. In the second, the Indians loaded the bases with one out but did nothing with it.
The Royals made it 2-0 in the fifth when Mike Aviles homered into the Tribe bullpen in center. It was the 5,000th homer in Royals history.
Chen cruised through the middle innings.
Butler's two-out RBI single in the seventh gave the Royals a 3-0 advantage.
The Tribe erupted in the eighth off Tejeda. Asdrubal Cabrera led off with a single. Shin-Soo Choo blooped a single to left. Duncan homered to left to make it 3-3. Minutes later, Brantley did his damage.
First-pitch temperature was 58 degrees -- 30 degrees colder than the opener of the four-game series Thursday.