Betancourt homers, drives in 3 runs to lead Royals over Indians 9-7

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Yuniesky Betancourt homered and drove in three runs as the Kansas City Royals beat the Cleveland Indians 9-7 Wednesday night.

Betancourt had a two-run single in the fourth inning and hit his 12th homer in the sixth as the Royals took a 9-4 lead.

Mitch Maier hit a two-run triple and Billy Butler also drove in a pair of runs for Kansas City. Gregor Blanco added two doubles.

It was the Royals' highest-scoring game since a 10-3 win over St. Louis on June 27.

Bruce Chen (8-6) benefited from the Royals' offensive splurge to win for the third time in four August starts. He gave up four runs on 11 hits in 5 2-3 innings.

Fausto Carmona (11-11) fell to 1-4 in his past five starts. He allowed seven runs on nine hits, a walk and a hit batter in five innings.

Asdrubal Cabrera and Shin-Soo Choo each had three hits and drove in two runs for Cleveland.

Choo's double in the three-run eighth scored Michael Brantley and Cabrera, trimming the Royals' lead to 9-7.

Joakim Soria gave up a single and walk in the ninth, but held on for his 35th save, which ties for the American League lead, in 37 opportunities.

Shelley Duncan led off the Indians' second with his seventh home run, snapping an 0-for-19 slump. Chris Gimenez's double in the sixth scored Jayson Nix and Jason Donald.

Billy Butler grounded into his major league-leading 26th double play in the third inning, tying a Royals single season record. John Wathan grounded into 26 double plays in 1982.

NOTES: Kansas State basketball coach Frank Martin threw out the ceremonial first pitch. OF Jai Miller, who appeared in one big league game June 22, 2008, with the Florida Marlins, joined the Royals after his promotion from Triple-A Omaha, where he hit .365 with six home runs and 15 RBIs in his past 14 games. ... DH Travis Hafner, who had two hits and two walks Tuesday, was not in the Indians lineup Wednesday. "It's a planned day off against a lefty," Indians manager Manny Acta said. "We'll play him the next four games." ... The Indians plan to promote blue-chip pitching prospect Carlos Carrasco soon from Triple-A Columbus. "He is a September callup and we may want to look at him before then, maybe later this month," Acta said. "I'm anxious to take a look at him. He's definitely a part of our future." He is 10-5 with a 3.71 ERA in 23 International League starts.