CLEVELAND — Andrew Miller, activated from the disabled list before the game, gave up Salvador Perez’s two-run homer in the seventh inning and the Kansas City Royals rallied to defeat the Cleveland Indians 10-9 on Friday night.
Miller, making his first appearance since straining his left hamstring April 25, allowed his first runs of the season and the Royals rallied from a 9-4 deficit.
Miller (1-1) entered the game in the seventh with a one-run lead, but walked Jon Jay on a 3-2 pitch. Jorge Soler and Mike Moustakas struck out before Perez hit a 1-1 pitch onto the home run porch in left field. Miller, who had pitched 10 scoreless innings before the injury, was removed following the homer.
The Indians have lost five of six. Cleveland went 5-9 and its bullpen had a 9.50 ERA while Miller was sidelined. Indians manager Terry Francona said consideration was given to have Miller make a couple of minor league rehab assignments, but the decision was made to activate the star left-hander.
Alcides Escobar had four RBIs for Kansas City while Lucas Duda doubled three times and drove in a run. Jay had two RBIs and Moustakas had three hits.
Brad Keller (1-1) pitched three scoreless innings for his first major league win. Kelvin Herrera retired the side in order in the ninth for his eighth save.
Michael Brantley’s grand slam capped a six-run fourth inning that gave Cleveland a 9-4 lead.
Brantley ended an eight-pitch at-bat by hitting a 2-2 delivery from Jason Hammel into the right field seats for his second grand slam this month and of his career. He also hit a game-tying grand slam in the ninth inning against Texas on May 1.
Kansas City scored a run in the fifth and three more in the sixth. Shortstop Francisco Lindor’s throwing error to start the sixth made two of the runs unearned. Rookie center fielder Greg Allen dropped a line drive in the third, leading to another unearned run.
Tyler Naquin’s two-run double in the fourth gave Cleveland a 5-4 lead. Jose Ramirez and Yonder Alonso homered in the first against Hammel, who hasn’t won since September 6, 2017, a stretch of 12 starts.
Indians starter Trevor Bauer allowed five runs and a career-high 11 hits in 4 2-3 innings. Hammel gave up nine runs, including three homers in 3 2-3 innings.
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