CLEVELAND ( Associated Press) – Andres Jiménez hit a three-run homer off rookie Colin Snyder in the eighth inning to give the Cleveland Guardian a 7-3 win over injury-ravaged Kansas City Royals on Monday night.
Jimenez’s shot off Snyder (3-2) rounded out pinch-runner Ernie Clement and rookie Oscar Gonzalez, who had singled out the innings for a miss earlier when he threw the ball into the stands with two outs. .
Jose Ramirez hit his 13th homer and scored three more runs for the Guardians, bringing his major league-leading total to 51 RBI.
Nick Sandlin (4-2) won in relief.
Emmanuel Rivera built home for the Royals, who rallied in eighth place but couldn’t stop falling to 16–31 – the AL’s worst record ever. Before the game, Kansas City made roster moves involving eight players.
Guardian starter Zack Plesack was on line to improve to 7-0 in 11 against the Royals before being halted by eighth-place Kansas City.
Eli Morgan replaced Plesack and set up seventh-ranked Kansas City, with Cleveland manager Terry Francona choosing to bring on Trevor Stephen. The right-hander was not dismissed, which included three straight hits, including back-to-back RBI doubles by Whit Merrifield and Andrew Benintendi, to level it 3-3.
But in Cleveland’s half, Josh Naylor took a one-and-a-half walk from Snyder, and Gonzalez singled out Gonzalez for his fifth homer just before running a 3-2 sinker from Snyder over the wall in straight center.
The Guardians scored a fourth on a throwing error by Royals rookie shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.
Cleveland’s win should help ease the misery Gonzalez receives from teammates after his bone-chilling game.
With the Guardians leading 3-1 in sixth place and a runner-up first, Gonzalez, who made his major league debut in Detroit last week, took a fine catch in the right-field corner to slash down Salvador Perez’s slicing drive Gave.
After making the grab, Gonzalez casually tosses the ball into the seats towards a fan, thinking the innings is over. Realizing his mistake, Gonzalez bent over like a catcher and bit the top of his glove.
Benintendi was awarded two bases on Gonzalez’s error, but Plesack gave up and dismissed MJ Melendez to end the threat.
instructor room
Royals: Veteran RHP Zack Greinke was placed on the 15-day IL with a tense right forearm, one of several roster roster moves ahead of the series opener. Greinke, 38, complained of a tightness in his hand after starting Sunday in Minnesota. Greinke’s 0-4 with a 5.05 ERA.
The Guardian: There is still no timetable for DH Franmil Reyes (hamstring) to return from the injured list. He interviewed coaches, strength and conditioning coaches, and Francona to create a long-term plan. … RHP Aaron Sivale (strained gluteus) underwent another MRI on Tuesday at Triple-A Columbus after throwing a side session in anticipation of a scheduled rehab start. Francona said that Sivale was unwilling to “ramp up” to the intensity of the game, so the team decided to investigate him further.
next
Cleveland’s most consistent starter despite his lack of run support, RHP Cal Quantrill (1-3) starts Tuesday against Royals LHP Daniel Lynch (2-3).
,
More Associated Press MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
