Duffy wins, Merrifield drives in 3 as Royals blank Indians

CLEVELAND (AP) — Danny Duffy pitched six innings of two-hit ball to beat a longtime nemesis and Whit Merrifield drove in all of Kansas City's runs with a homer and sacrifice fly, leading the Royals over the Cleveland Indians 3-0 on Monday.

The Indians played their home opener in front of fans for the first time since 2019. The announced attendance of 8,914 —- 30% of ballpark capacity was permitted — was a nice change from last season, when fans couldn’t attend due to the COVID-19 pandemic and health and safety protocols.

Duffy (1-0) came in with 12 career losses against the Indians — his most against any team. But the left-hander was in control from the outset and beat them for the fifth time.

Scott Barlow pitched two perfect innings and Jesse Hahn put two on in the ninth before Royals first baseman Carlos Santana, who signed with the club as a free agent this winter after 10 seasons in Cleveland, made a diving stop on Eddie Rosario's smash to start a double play.

Hahn then retired Franmil Reyes on a hard comebacker that caromed off the right-hander to complete Kansas City's three-hit shutout and get the save.

Duffy has won three of his last four starts against the Indians since losing eight straight, and he's pitched 11 2-3 consecutive scoreless innings in his past two outings versus Cleveland.

Merrifield connected for his third homer in the second inning off Indians starter Logan Allen (0-1). Merrifield added his sacrifice fly in the seventh.

A three-run deficit was too much for the Indians, who have scored two runs or less in three of their first four games.

The last time Cleveland played in front of fans at Progressive Field was on Sept. 22, 2019, a 10-1 win over Philadelphia.

“We missed the fans maybe more than they missed being here,” manager...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Duffy-wins-Merrifield-drives-in-3-as-Royals-16078802.php