Indians-Royals: Greinke Improves to 2-0 as Royals Win Second Straight

(Photo by G. Newman Lowrance/Getty Images)

KANSAS CITY—Zack attack.

The Royals once again used their great starting pitching to snag a victory, seeing it come this time from young phenom Zack Greinke. Greinke took the mound and led the Royals to a 4-2 victory over Cleveland on Monday night at Kauffman Stadium.

Although Greinke did not have his best stuff or command, he still found a way to get the job done.

Greinke got immediate help from his offense, an area that the Royals have brutally struggled with during the first week of the season.

Royals lead-off hitter Coco Crisp led off the Royals half of the first with a walk, which one out later. was followed by David DeJesus earning a walk of his own. RBI hits by right fielder Mark Teahen and designated hitter Billy Butler brought home Crisp and DeJesus, giving the Royals an early 2-0 lead. With two outs, second baseman Alberto Callaspo singled home Teahen, completing the Royals' three run first.

That was all Greinke would need.

Greinke blanked the Indians through his five innings at work, working his way out of two separate occasions when the Indians had two runners in scoring positions.

The Royals'fourth and final run of the game came in the fourth inning off the bat of newly-acquired first baseman Mike Jacobs, who belted a Fausto Carmona fastball into the brand new fountain seats in right center field.

The two lone Indians runs were scored in the Indians's half of the ninth, when youngsters Trevor Crowe and Asdrubal Cabrera led off the inning with back-to-back singles against Royals lefty reliever Ron Mahay, and came around to score when Royals closer Joakim Soria entered the game and immediately surrendered RBI singles to Grady Sizemore and Shin-Soo Choo. However, Soria was able to clamp down shortly thereafter and recorded his fourth save of the season.

Greinke improved to 2-0 in 2009, and his ERA stayed consistent, sitting at a respectable 0.00. 

Carmona was given the loss, as he dropped to 0-2 on the season. His ERA currently sits at a 9.00 clip.

The Royals will hope to secure the series victory over the Indians on Tuesday night at the K. They will send young right-hander Kyle Davies—0-0, 0.00 ERA—to face the Indians' Carl Pavano, who is 0-1 with an 81.00 ERA, following his forgettable outing against the Texas Rangers on April 9. The game is scheduled for 7:10 PM CDT.

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