Kansas City, MO – Billy Butler went 3-for-4 with two doubles and knocked in a run to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 5-3 win over the Cleveland Indians.
Irving Falu had two hits and an RBI, and Alcides Escobar, Eric Hosmer and Brayan Pena each drove in a run for the Royals, who have won four straight.
Will Smith (6-8) gave up two runs on eight hits and struck out five over seven innings to earn the win.
Cord Phelps clubbed a two-run homer and Carlos Santana had two hits and scored a run for the Indians, losers in four of their last five.
Ubaldo Jimenez (9-17) surrendered five runs on seven hits and three walks over 4 1/3 innings to drop his sixth straight decision over an eight-start span.
The Royals pushed two across in the first inning. Jarrod Dyson walked, stole second then scored on Escobar's double to right. Butler followed with a single to right field.
Phelps' two run-shot in the fifth was the second homer of his career.
But Kansas City countered with three in the home half to retake the lead. With the bases loaded and one away Hosmer reached on a fielder's choice to score Alex Gordon. Pena followed with a sacrifice fly to push Mike Moustakas across and Falu's base hit plated Jeff Francoeur.
The Indians added a run in the eighth when Santana came around on center fielder Jason Bourgeois' fielding error.
Kelvin Herrera worked the ninth to seal the win. It was his second save of the season.
Game Notes
Butler became the first Royals player to tally 100 RBI since Carlos Beltran had 100 in 2003 ... Kansas City is 7-0 against the Indians since May 29 ... Cleveland went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base.
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