Franco, Starling rally Kansas City to 2-1 win over Indians

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Maikel Franco and Bubba Starling had RBI singles in the eighth inning as the Kansas City Royals rallied to beat the Cleveland Indians 2-1 on Monday night in the first game of a three-game series.

It was the Royals’ first win this season when trailing after seven innings.

Scott Barlow (2-1) picked up the win in relief for Kansas City. He pitched one inning, allowing two hits and no runs. Greg Holland recorded his second save.

James Karinchak (0-2) took the loss. He walked the first two batters he faced, and they scored on the hits by Franco and Starling.

Shane Bieber continued his stellar start to the 2020 season. He threw six scoreless innings, striking out nine and allowing just one hit. He also lowered his major league-leading ERA to 1.20, and increased his major league lead to 84 strikeouts.

Brad Keller allowed just one run in 6 1/3 innings on three hits. He walked just one and struck out four.

The pitcher’s duel came as no surprise, with Bieber and Keller on the mound. Bieber came in leading the MLB with a 1.35 ERA in seven starts. Keller did not allow a run in his first three starts after beginning the season on the injured list recovering from COVID-19. He allowed five runs on six hits in four innings in his last start, and had a 2.08 ERA.

The starters lived up to the hype. Through six innings, Bieber and Keller had allowed one hit each. Keller retired 11 straight at one point.

The Indians finally got to Keller in the seventh. After retiring Francisco Lindor leading off, he gave up a single to Carlos Santana, and then an RBI double to Franmil Reyes. Keller left after allowing one run on three hits. It was one too many against Bieber.

Once Bieber left the game, the Royals got two runners on in the seventh. But Nick Wittgren made an...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Franco-Starling-rally-Kansas-City-to-2-1-win-15529111.php