Remarkable rookie Kwan delivers again, Guardians beat Royals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The only big mistake that Cleveland rookie Steven Kwan has made during his first four big league games came in left field, where he was trying to rush a catch-and-throw to the plate and had a flyball bounce off the heel of his glove.

He hasn't made many mistakes with a bat in his hands.

And after that gaffe in the outfield Monday, the 24-year-old from Oregon State came right back to belt a bases-loaded triple, becoming the first player to reach base at least three times in each of his first four games while leading the rechristened Guardians to a 10-7 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

“He was trying to do it a little too quick and it hit the heel of his glove. But then his at-bat was terrific," Guardians manager Terry Francona said. “His at-bats are really, really good. That’s stating the obvious.”

Might as well drive home the point: Kwan went 5 for 5 and reached safely six times a day earlier, when Cleveland rolled to a 17-3 win over the Royals. He reached base three more times and added his first three RBIs on Monday, finishing the series 9 for 13, reaching base in 15 of 19 plate appearances and scoring four times.

“Pretty cool,” Kwan said in his typical understated manner. “Pretty surreal.”

Oscar Mercado added a two-run homer for the Guardians, who scored just once over the first two games in Kansas City but piled up 27 runs over the last two. The result was a split of the season-opening set between AL Central rivals.

“I'm done trying to figure this out,” Francona said of the scoring disparity.

Logan Allen (1-0) earned the win Monday with two scoreless innings of relief in his first appearance of the season.

The finale was tied 4-all in the seventh when Royals reliever Jake Brentz (0-1) gave up a single, sacrifice bunt and walk. Josh...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Remarkable-rookie-Kwan-delivers-again-Guardians-17073730.php