Kansas City, MO – Mike Aviles smacked a three-run homer and finished with five RBI, as the Cleveland Indians routed the Kansas City Royals, 10-3, to salvage a split of a doubleheader on Sunday at Kauffman Stadium.
Carlos Santana went 4-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, while Asdrubal Cabrera, Nick Swisher and Drew Stubbs each knocked in a run for the Indians, who had lost three straight, including a 9-0 decision in Sunday's opener.
"It's always fun to come back and play here," said Aviles, who spent his first three-plus seasons in Kansas City. "I always have a soft spot in my heart for Kansas City because it's a great place. It's a great town. Not many people know about it."
Cleveland starter Corey Kluber (2-0) allowed just two runs on seven hits while striking out six over seven frames to earn the victory in his first start of the season.
Chris Getz plated a pair of runs and Lorenzo Cain contributed an RBI for the Royals, who had won three straight and five of their last six games.
Kansas City starter Will Smith (0-1) was recalled from Triple-A Omaha before the game and gave up six runs -- four earned -- on seven hits over four-plus frames to absorb the loss.
"We played crummy," Kansas City manager Ned Yost said of the loss. "We didn't play good. We didn't play good defensively. We didn't make smart decision on the basepaths. It happens."
The Tribe touched Smith for a pair of unearned runs in the first, as Michael Brantley led off with a single before Swisher followed two batters later with a grounder to third that Mike Moustakas misplayed.
Mark Reynolds then singled to load the bases before Santana scorched a base hit back up the middle for a 1-0 lead. Aviles followed with a fielder's choice to score Swisher.
Smith then retired the Tribe in order in the second before running into more trouble in the third. Cabrera started the frame with a single and Santana followed two batters later with a two-out base hit.
Aviles then provided the big blow of the inning with a towering fly ball into the left-field seats to give the Indians a 5-0 lead.
Cleveland added another run in the fourth when Yan Gomes scorched a leadoff triple before trotting home on Stubbs' sacrifice fly to make it 6-0.
Kansas City countered with a pair in the bottom half on Getz's two-out single to shallow center field, but the Tribe tacked on two more runs in the seventh and eighth innings to put the game out of reach.
Three consecutive singles to start the seventh loaded the bases before Aviles' sac fly plated a run. With runners on the corners and one out, Ryan Raburn struck out and Santana stole second. Reynolds then raced home on Getz's throwing error for an 8-2 lead.
Cabrera tripled home Brantley in the eighth before scoring on a Swisher sac fly to make it 10-2.
Cain smacked a sac fly in the bottom half to account for the final margin.
Game Notes
This four-game series wraps up Monday when Ubaldo Jimenez takes the hill for the Indians against Kansas City right-hander Wade Davis ... The twinbill, which was made necessary when Friday's game was postponed, was the first day/night doubleheader at Kauffman since the stadium opened its doors in 1973 ... Kluber became the eighth pitcher to start a game for the Tribe this season.
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