CLEVELAND - The Cleveland Guardians’ 9th-inning rally fell short in Monday’s 5-3 home loss to the Kansas City Royals.
The Guardians (49-51) posted a pair of baserunners with one out in the final frame but failed to capitalize against Royals (29-73) reliever Scott Barlow, who retired Steven Kwan on a grounder to first with runners on the corners to end the game and Kansas City's five-game losing streak.
The Royals tagged Guardians starter Logan Allen for five runs (four earned) on seven hits, with three specific at-bats establishing Kansas City's scoring output: a 2nd-inning 2-run double by Edward Olivares; a 2-run home run by Salvador Perez in the 6th; and Maikel Garcia’s solo shot in the top of the 7th.
“They took advantage of some of those opportunities, some of those early pitches…and that was the difference today,” Allen stated after the loss.
“I thought [Allen] pitched better than his line will show,” said Guardians manager Terry Francona. “They were ultra-aggressive early. Because of that, he was deep in the game, and you look up…his pitch count wasn’t very high.”
Allen threw 84 pitches over his seven innings of work, while Royals starter Ryan Yarbrough (3-5) gave up six hits and one earned run over six frames - the exact same totals in those respective categories as in Yarbrough’s win over the Guardians on Jul. 9 in Cleveland.
“We just had a tough time keeping the line moving,” said Francona. "Coming into the game, he’d had a tougher time against left-handers. But, with his angle, I’m kind of surprised to see that. He gave our lefties some difficulties.”
The four pure left-handed hitters in the Guardians’ Monday night lineup - Steven Kwan, Josh Naylor, Andres Gimenez, and Will Brennan - combined for a 1-for-11 plate performance against Yarbrough, while switch-hitter Josh Bell - batting from the right side - singled to score Amed Rosario for the Guardians’ first run in the bottom of the 6th inning.
The Cleveland offense would produce two more runs against the Royals’ bullpen, with Myles Straw slapping a two-run single in the bottom of the 7th inning off Jose Cues.
Daniel Norris managed two innings of scoreless relief for the Guardians in his first major league appearance since Jun. 18, while Barlow notched his 12th save of the season for Kansas City.
The two teams will face off in Tuesday night’s game at Progressive Field (7:10 p.m. first pitch). Aaron Civil (3-2, 2.71 ERA) will pitch against Royals right-hander Zack Greinke (1-10, 5.40 ERA)